Reef tank filtration

[florida joe]

and thank you for the clarification. . Denitrification is not the final step in nitrification. The final step in nitrification is the production of nitrates. The final step in denitrification is not limited to nitrogen gas being released

 

[beaslbob]

From what I hear is nitrates, are reduced to nitrItes then to nitrogen gas. It is also possible the nitrItes are further reduced to ammonia under certain conditions.

All that relies on low oxygen (anoxic) or no oxygen (anaerobic) bacteria.

Another method and much more desirable IMHO is to use algae (macros, turf, corraline) to consume the nitrates and carbon dioxide while returning fish food and oxygen. One plus is that should ammonia be present, the algae will consume that first (then the nitrates) for nitrogen. Which tends to break up dangerous spikes and possible tank crashes.

my .02

 

[florida joe]

Exactly my old friend that is why denitrification is not limited to nitrogen gas being released. as you state a much more desirable way is through assimilatory reduction

 

[beaslbob]

Exactly my old friend that is why denitrification is not limited to nitrogen gas being released. as you state a much more desirable way is through assimilatory reduction

Is that like algae? LOL

 

[florida joe]

umm I will have to research and get back to you