nitrification details

[jazzyz]

i was wondering ... does the same bacteria that breaks down ammonia to nitrite then break down nitrite to nitrate or is that the job of a different strain of bacteria??

 

[sea_note]

I'm new to the hobby but have done a lot of reading. The bacteria that breaks down Nitrite to Nitrate different. I think I also read that there is no known bacteria that breaks down Nitrate.

 

[gmidd]

Originally Posted by Sea_Note
I'm new to the hobby but have done a lot of reading. The bacteria that breaks down Nitrite to Nitrate different. I think I also read that there is no known bacteria that breaks down Nitrate.
Correct X 2. Thats why weekly 10% water changes are recommended.

 

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by Sea_Note
I think I also read that there is no known bacteria that breaks down Nitrate.
This is wrong...
There is a third type of bacteria that lives in areas where there is very little or no oxygen. This bacteria lives in deep areas of live rock but in most systems, theres not enough to keep nitrates at 0, so many hobbiest use a deep sand bed to provide a habitat for it....works well too.

 

[craig7220]

Yep, in a dsb or deep into live rocks, the anaeorbic (sp) bacteria will convert nitrates to nitrogen gas that will bubble out of the water column... Problem is that the nitrates can build up quicker than this bacteria can handle....

 

[thud]

Look into Midwest Atlantic's denitrifer. (no more water changes)