Nitrate level too High.....:(

[nim75sg]

Bro, for nitrate to be broken down into Nitrogen gas, i understand that there is a need for anerobic bacteria...however, i would like to know, if these bacterias are already in the tank (i.e. they will flourish automatically once a zero 02 condition is available...or i will have to specially culture them in a zero O2 enviromnent...???

Denitrification refers to the third step of the nitrogen cycle

Most of us are aware that biological filtration converts ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate via aerobic bacteria. Although Nitrates is not particularly harmful to fish, plants or invertebrates, it poses a threat by unwanted algae growth.

In extreme high levels of Nitrates, it can affect the overall health of your tank and inhabitants which can leads to a "tank crash".

Nitrates are left behind in most aquariums because the bacteria necessary to remove them are anaerobic, meaning 'oxygen phobic'. Since the aquarium water is well oxygenated, as is your wet/dry, undergravel filter or other biological filter system, these special bacteria do not grow.

Therefore, a special filtration device is needed which is the denitrator must be O2 free where this is the 3rd stage of the nitrogen cycle which denitrification always refers to.

[LIM CHYE HUAT]

Never encountered this problem as I am using a Dosing Pump for my AquaMedic Denitrator.

Did encountered this for the coil denitrator as I am using a valve to control the drip rate. This "stoppage" is usually from the pump deteriorating in performance .. just cleaned the pump impeller and it should solve this "stoppage".

can tell me where you bought the dosing pump, aquamart? , is it sp 3000 ? and how much?

and when you mention about cleaning the impeller, is it the denitrator's internal circulation impeller or the impeller of the power head that drives the denitrator ?

[nim75sg]

OK .. to avoid any confusion. Presently I am using 2 denitrators for my 2 x 6ft tank. One of them is the Aqua Medic and the other is a Coil Denitrator.

Never encountered any problem in the drip rate with the Aqua Medic Denitrator as a dosing pump is in place here. The Dosing pump is the SP3000 and the damage to your pocket is about $200+ (I think about $240) from AquaMart.

Unlike the Coil Denitrator which is powered by Eheim Compact 600 pump which causes drip rate problem if you don't clean the pump impeller on a regular basis. But this is what you get if you pay only $36 for the Eheim pump.