Nitrate reduction by DSB

[Limpc]

Hi all,

Saw a few postings about the merit of DSB and I'm still struggling with high nitrate level. I would like to ask all experts about the mechanism behind DSB. Let me try this:

1. DSB reduces oxygen supply and thus provides environment for anaerobic bateria to survive and multiply.

2. These bateria consumes Nitrate and thus lowering the NO3 level.

My question is if the bacteria are inches deep, how can they reach the water flow to consume the nitrate ?

Thanks in advance

Limpc

[newdamsel]

SImply by diffusion, if i'm not wrong

[Achilles Tang]

Yup... the water flow deep down a DSB is very very very slow... diffusion is a better way to describe it.

That is why it is also highly recommended that a DSB should not have a lot of obstructions eg. liverock covering the majority of its surface as it is essential to allow water to circulate through the top layers and have sand-sifting creatures to prevent compaction in the uppermost layers for this very purpose.

A newly setup DSB will take some time to work... it's not instant. But over time, it'll be the cheapest, most effective and best way to reduce nitrates.

[Norvin Ng]

I am using the plenum method (with an addition of a dead space at the tank base). So far so good. Anyone keen to know more can search key words under " Dr. Jean Jaubert's NNR / Plenum".

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/livesandsetup has infor as well.