Is This Denitrification?

[weishun]

Hi all, need all your opinions on whether this is denitrification or not? Please judge the picture. Thanks.

[Melvyn Tan]

Have you a cross-section of the sand bed?

[weishun]

Have you a cross-section of the sand bed?

Sorry, what you mean by cross section of sand bed?

[Archer82]

I believe he is referring to the side of your tank...where you can see the depth of the sandbed. If I am correct if denitrification takes place there shd not be algae or diatoms visible as otherwise you can infer that the bubbles are due to the algae

Any bros please do correct me if I am wrong

[iantoh]

hi weishun,

http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm

heres a link to a pretty good article about deep sand beds and the general denitrification process that occurs in our aquariums. check out the thumbnailed photos of the sendbed cross section that bro melvyn was referring to.

in any case, my two cents worth to summarise things for you. think your sand surface bubbles are more likley the result of photosynthesis by diatom algae that denitrification because for a four inch sand bed, the top two inch and a half is colonised by bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate; it is only in the lowest inch that anaerobic conversion of nitrates to nitrogen and oxygen can take place.

hope that helps. think your sand bed and sump looks decent anyways. probably just raise it to five inches in height to be sure. and oh, add a flat teaspon of sugar into your tank water. bacteria use up sugars as energy when they denitrify in the same way all food is converted to sugars in our bodies before we can metabolise- they use up nitrites and nitrates by actually breathing it in, the same way plants breathe in carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. adding a little sugar will create a bactrial bloom that will make your tank cloudy for an hour or two, but after that, those bacteria that can be sustained by your tanks wastes will remain. pls dont overdose though.

cheers,

ian

[weishun]

hi weishun,

http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm

heres a link to a pretty good article about deep sand beds and the general denitrification process that occurs in our aquariums. check out the thumbnailed photos of the sendbed cross section that bro melvyn was referring to.

in any case, my two cents worth to summarise things for you. think your sand surface bubbles are more likley the result of photosynthesis by diatom algae that denitrification because for a four inch sand bed, the top two inch and a half is colonised by bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate; it is only in the lowest inch that anaerobic conversion of nitrates to nitrogen and oxygen can take place.

hope that helps. think your sand bed and sump looks decent anyways. probably just raise it to five inches in height to be sure. and oh, add a flat teaspon of sugar into your tank water. bacteria use up sugars as energy when they denitrify in the same way all food is converted to sugars in our bodies before we can metabolise- they use up nitrites and nitrates by actually breathing it in, the same way plants breathe in carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. adding a little sugar will create a bactrial bloom that will make your tank cloudy for an hour or two, but after that, those bacteria that can be sustained by your tanks wastes will remain. pls dont overdose though.

cheers,

ian

Thanks bro for the infomation. Got a clearer picture of it after reading. Will try the sugar method later and will post the results. Thanks and cheers!

[weishun]

Here is a cross section of the sandbed. Can anyone verify?

[LaW]

Here is a cross section of the sandbed. Can anyone verify?

theres a topic on bubble within the sandbed recently.

do a search on it.

and IMO, the sandbed is doing the denitrafication.

[madmac]

hi weishun, jus checking my tots... 1st pic taken in the dead nite, lights were out... flow looks reduced.

2nd pic taken in the day, guessing sometime in the late afternoon.

can you provide a pic like the 2nd one taken about the time as the first.

[Achilles Tang]

Looks like it. Doesn't look like you have any green algae on the glass under the top layer of sand that could produce oxygen bubbles.

Not so such about the top pix though. Could be some algae producing 02 bubbles.

[weishun]

Looks like it. Doesn't look like you have any green algae on the glass under the top layer of sand that could produce oxygen bubbles.

Not so such about the top pix though. Could be some algae producing 02 bubbles.

Hmm boss.. so that means the below picture is denitrification taking place and the top picture is algae producing 02 bubbles?

That means my sandbed is performing its denitrification process already?

[Achilles Tang]

Seems like it. Unless you can capture the bubble and send for a lab test to see if its nitrogen gas or O2.... I can only guess it is...

[weishun]

Seems like it. Unless you can capture the bubble and send for a lab test to see if its nitrogen gas or O2.... I can only guess it is...

Hmmm... i hope it is the denitrification process that has kicked off.. hehehee

[weishun]

Seems like it. Unless you can capture the bubble and send for a lab test to see if its nitrogen gas or O2.... I can only guess it is...

Ehh sorry.. you were mentioning about a lab test? Is there labs that can help us do such testings in singapore?

[lightningstrike]

Ehh sorry.. you were mentioning about a lab test? Is there labs that can help us do such testings in singapore?

u can send it to SPRING (Standards, Productivity & Innovation Board), fomerly known as PSB (Productivity & Standards Board). but the cost of the lab tests r

[weishun]

u can send it to SPRING (Standards, Productivity & Innovation Board), fomerly known as PSB (Productivity & Standards Board). but the cost of the lab tests r

Expensive rite?

[LaW]

Expensive rite?

dunno how much but..

very

not worth it