Does live rock remove nitrates?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

So following along this thought, where did my nitrate go? I'm talking about long running systems never showing detectable NO3, even feeding "well" with PE mysis, daily nori, etc.

I like to believe the rock is doing it, but how does the water reach the anaerobic areas within the rock at sufficient turnover to process the entire tank?
And I'm not certain you need a carbon source with these bacteria, now you're gonna make me have to hit the books again.

Nitrate is removed with water changes but more importantly organics are removed before they break down into nitrates with a good skimmer. Also a refugium can work fairly well at removing nitrates. I really doubt your rock is doing very much, maybe some but very little.

[sphelps]

If you're looking for some good information on the subject try researching waste water treatment, denitrification is a necessary part of this. There's not a whole lot out there for info regarding this in the aquarium.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by sphelps

If you're looking for some good information on the subject try researching waste water treatment, denitrification is a necessary part of this. There's not a whole lot out there for info regarding this in the aquarium.

Hmm, I'm actually a factory trained water quality technician, however wastewater treatment and natural denitrification in live rock are two different environments. The books I mentioned above though, are wastewater management related. As soon as I dig them out, I'll start reading. Limnology will also give us some clues about natural anaerobic/anoxic zones, so those books need to come out too. Maybe I shoulda just bought some rock and shut up

[Aquattro]

not done reading this yet, but so far looks like an interesting article from Dr. Ron

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

not done reading this yet, but so far looks like an interesting article from Dr. Ron

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php

So this seems to answer some of the questions, while posing some new ones. Coraline growth and population of creatures within the rock can influence filtration capacity. Hmm. Tony, review the parts about "good rock" vs. "bad rock"....

[mark]

Seems to make sense if the rock became encrusted with corals or coralline would have an effect.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mark

Seems to make sense if the rock became encrusted with corals or coralline would have an effect.

Yes, and my question about how the water gets through the rock is answered with fauna living inside the rock. Lots of worms, etc, lots of movement with subsequent filtration happening. No worms, no filtration....hmm

[Doug]

I would agree rock does de-nitrify but certainly not the most efficient like a dsb or plenum system. Or my turf scrubber.

I have seen pics of tanks with very old rock and doing fine. I get the same algae growth on newer expensive Fiji, as my 17yr. old Florida type rock.

How the heck does one take the rock from a full blown reef and cook it. I once also said in regards to rock being changed out after some time, that when I start throwing away rock thats $5 to $10 a pound, that the day I take up another hobby.

[reptile guy]

I remember hearing someone saying about dosing your tank with sugar but don't know how effective that would actually be or if that would work along the same lines as vodka. Rather use the vodka to get me drunk and not my fishes

[Chin_Lee]

Originally Posted by reptile guy

I remember hearing someone saying about dosing your tank with sugar but don't know how effective that would actually be or if that would work along the same lines as vodka. Rather use the vodka to get me drunk and not my fishes

be very careful with dosing vodka. it can crash your tank very quickly by providing too much nutrient to a certain strain of bacteria which will then start covering your rocks with slimey bacteria.