Flow Through DSB

[bioload]

Hi all,

I've recently started a new tank that is about 6 weeks old. This is a brief summary of the tank to date:

Volume - 75gal
Rock - 20lbs live 30lbs dry
Substrate - None
Livestock - 2 Clowns, a Tang and a pair of Coral Banded Shrimp
Filtration - Marineland Emperor 400 BioWheel Filter
Water changes - None to date

The tank has been through it's initial ammonia and nitrite rise and fall with nitrate now being my primary focus, which I would like to be able to control and better understand before I start adding any corals to the tank.

I looked near and far for information regarding Natural Nitrate reduction......... just when you thought you had enough information on the nitrogen cycle.

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

What is the Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrosomonas

Nitrosomonas

Nitrifying Bacteria Facts

Nitrobacter

What does a Bio filter and a Denitrification filter do?

Anaerobic Respiration

Anaerobic wastewater treatment reviewed

Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater Management Fact Sheet - Denitrifying Filters

Denitrification - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant

Denitrification

Denitrification Filter

Wastewater Treatment with Methanol Denitrification

Deep Bed Denitrification Filters Play Role in Improved Wastewater Quality

Investigation into Methanol as a Carbon Source for Denitrification

Vodka Dosing...Distilled!

Aqua Medic Nitratereductor

Nitrates in Marine Aquarium Systems

FAQs on Marine Water Quality involving Nitrates

Biological Filtration

Nutrient Control and Export: Ways to Increase Water Quality and Eliminate Nuisance Algae in Marine Aquaria

An Introduction to Deep Sand Beds

Hourly and Daily Variation of Sediment Redox Potential in Tidal Wetlands Sediment

Effect of Alternate Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions on Redox Potential

The Food of Reefs, Part 6: Particulate Organic Matter

Hydrogen Sulfide and the Reef Aquarium

ORP and the Reef Aquarium

In my search to gain a better understanding of the process, I thought this may be a good opportunity to look at nitrate specifically and it's removal since my tank is in it's early stages. The articles above raised as many questions for me as they answered.

That said, I would like to set up a remote deep sand bed and monitor/document specifically its effect on nitrate in my system. Based on what I've read results have been mixed.....surprised? My nitrate reading currently are 80-100 API test kit (any recommendations on test kits/monitors would be appreciated as well).

The first thing I would like to know is how long would it generally take for NNR to occur in live rock, so that any observed reduction can be attributed directly to the RDSB. If I were to add a RDSB right now, and I noticed a reduction in nitrates, would it be safe to assume that the reduction was due to the addition of the DSB, or was it some other process that was happening within the rock that I was not aware of.

Secondly, and more important, I would like to know how the flow within a DSB would effect NNR. Has anyone done any trials using a flow through RDSB, or any studies regarding the flow.

Any feedback on the subject would also be great. Hope to have the RDSB in place soon and interested in seeing what happens.

P.S. links are always appreicated (and always read......eventually).