I hear the whole nitrate factory theory referred to a lot, how the gunk building up in your gravel causes nitrates to soar, and I was wondering if anyone can explain it or if anyone has read about it in a book, because as far as I can tell it is just a commonly accepted truth that I can't seem to figure out. If anyone can actually explain the biology and chemistry of it I would much appreciate it.
Nitrate gunk in gravel theory
- Thread starter reptileguy2727
- Start date
Much of the gunk in your gravel is undecayed organic waste. Removing this waste before the nitrogen containing compounds break down into ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate reduces the eventual amount of nitrate that will end up in your system.
In think the "nitrate factory" phrase you are talking about refers to reef tanks where such filter materials trap nitrogenous waste and allow it to go through the nitrogen cycle. In a freshwater tank, we can easily remove nitrate with water changes to keep it at a desirable level. In a reef tank, not only is it more expensive, but sensitive invertebrates don't handle nitrate as well as most fw fish do. This is why a protein skimmer is required to remove partially dissolved nitrogenous wastes before they can complete the nitrogen cycle and end up as nitrate.
Brandon
In think the "nitrate factory" phrase you are talking about refers to reef tanks where such filter materials trap nitrogenous waste and allow it to go through the nitrogen cycle. In a freshwater tank, we can easily remove nitrate with water changes to keep it at a desirable level. In a reef tank, not only is it more expensive, but sensitive invertebrates don't handle nitrate as well as most fw fish do. This is why a protein skimmer is required to remove partially dissolved nitrogenous wastes before they can complete the nitrogen cycle and end up as nitrate.
Brandon
Unable to determine what you're talking about, so you might check this site for reading material.
<http://www.marineland.com/science/dr_tim/drtims_articles.asp>
Nitrates are the product of aerobic decomposition of nitrogeneous wastes. Where there are animals and wastes there are going ot be nitrogeneos wastes.
I am specifically referring to the cases where 'if you do not keep your gravel clean, it will just become a nitrate factory'. I hear this a lot, but the chemistry and biology of it does not make sense to me. I am speaking speficially of freshwater tanks.
Related to this is that if you do not keep your gravel clean you could also end up with anaerobic bacteria causing problems. Again, the chemistry and biology of it does nto make sense. I hear that toxic gasses can build up in anaerobic areas if you do not keep the gravel clean (or stir your sand).
Just in general here, I am not trying to prove that gravel maintenance is not needed, I am just trying to understand these vague, but frequently accepted ideas.
Related to this is that if you do not keep your gravel clean you could also end up with anaerobic bacteria causing problems. Again, the chemistry and biology of it does nto make sense. I hear that toxic gasses can build up in anaerobic areas if you do not keep the gravel clean (or stir your sand).
Just in general here, I am not trying to prove that gravel maintenance is not needed, I am just trying to understand these vague, but frequently accepted ideas.
reptileguy2727;581568; said:
Lots of junk builds up in the gravel and breaks down. Lots of anaerobes like in gravel/sand that isn't stirred. Some of these bacteria make pockets of hydrogen sulfide, and some make packets of denitrofers and reduce nitrates (like a plenum in a salt tank or a DSB)
Moral of the story: Put a bag of Purigen in your filter.
When i read about plenums, that is what through em off about fw anaerobic activity. Plenums usually have a few inches of sand on top of a few inches of open water to get anaerobic bacteria (need traces of oxygen), that isn't even the anoxic conditions needed for sulfide producing bacteria. So Idon;t see how an inch or two of sand or gravel can accomplish that anoxic water needed for sulfide production.
What exactly does purigen do?
What exactly does purigen do?
reptileguy2727;581685; said:
Removes impurities and nitrogeneous wastes from the water (mostly nitrates).
That sounds like a short cut to water changes. Why not do it right and just do water changes? They are cheaper and more beneficial. I don't think medias like nitrate removers should be used at all unless there are other circumstances dictating the need for their use, such as a need to keep nitrates at no more than 10ppm, but your tap brings them in at 20ppm.