Nitrate Into A 'harmless',inert Gas.

[The Taffy Apple]

Good day all.. i would like you thoughts on what was 'explained' to me this evening through a social nerworking site..
A current tropical and marine store from the U.S had tried to sell me a product that would "guarantee only having to change my water for a hassle free 12 months".... when i asked how such a product would work i had the reply "not changing water is one benefit of having a well-balanced ecosystem RE; with essential bacteria and enzymes"...followed by "we have denitrifying bacteria, they convert nitrates into inert nitrogen gas"....
This company, or more so it's social networking department, are positive they are not talking about marine tanks and live rock...but filters and filter media associated with freshwater tanks...


We live in a consumer world.

Terry.

 

[Chad]

Well...the process is real...this happens in reef tanks all the time and is the result of low oxygen to no oxygen zones inside of the live rock where denitrifying bacteria live. So I am fully behind the idea. However...I am always dubious about just what bacteria is in a bottle and how bacteria that requires low to no oxygen can live in such a container for long. It seems to me the minute it's opened they are flooded with oxygen and would die. I don't claim to be a bacteriologist so I won't say this is 100% a death sentence for them but my current level of understanding as a reef keeper has it that this would in fact kill of the bacteria.

 

[DrRob]

There are ways of doing it, however it does require that you fall into the trap of only doing water changes for the measurable toxins like nitrates.

 

[Chad]

Let me clarify...I'm talking about the bacteria...not the water changes. I recommend frequent water changes even in a reef tank that shows zero nitrates!

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Well...the process is real...this happens in reef tanks all the time and is the result of low oxygen to no oxygen zones inside of the live rock where denitrifying bacteria live. So I am fully behind the idea. However...I am always dubious about just what bacteria is in a bottle and how bacteria that requires low to no oxygen can live in such a container for long. It seems to me the minute it's opened they are flooded with oxygen and would die. I don't claim to be a bacteriologist so I won't say this is 100% a death sentence for them but my current level of understanding as a reef keeper has it that this would in fact kill of the bacteria.

I appreciate you thoughts and comments, but they catigorically stated they were talking about freshwater tanks..

The latest reply i have receieved is that their product---" contains both facultative and anaerobic denitrifying bacteria, which will convert it into inert N2, This is nature..."

Terry.

 

[Chad]

Yes, I understood that. The concept is the same be it a reef tank or a FW tank. If you have a zone where the low to no oxygen bacteria can thrive, the denitrifying bacteria, it will do it's job regardless of it being marine or FW.

 

[deftuch]

Let me clarify...I'm talking about the bacteria...not the water changes. I recommend frequent water changes even in a reef tank that shows zero nitrates!

a friend of mine who happens to be an african ciclid breeder is currently setting up a low oxygen, slow flow rate reactor using seachem denitrate. i will be posting an update of how well it works the seachme denitrate works best in low oxygen and slow flow rates so the kind of bacteria you are talking about can flourish tcamos

 

[Chad]

This is something I've always wondered why it didn't become more popular in FW since the science behind it is the same. I am glad to see it slowly making it's way over. My original post here was to warn that buying such bacteria might not be the best bet. It should grow on its own given the right environment.

 

[deftuch]

This is something I've always wondered why it didn't become more popular in FW since the science behind it is the same. I am glad to see it slowly making it's way over. My original post here was to warn that buying such bacteria might not be the best bet. It should grow on its own given the right environment.

my thoughts exactly. ther bacteria can live forever untouched. so if you get the conditions correct in the reactor. theoretically you wont have to touch the reactor ever again.

 

[Chad]

As long as they are able to get food in there. Biopellets are designed not only to provide surface area for the bacteria but work as a food source as well. They sell them and reactors online: http/aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/search?asug=&view=grid&cnt=12&w=biopellets

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Let me clarify...I'm talking about the bacteria...not the water changes. I recommend frequent water changes even in a reef tank that shows zero nitrates!

That's what you are saying, but that's not how the product is being marketed. While you and I and a bunch of others here recognize that nitrate is far from the only thing that needs to be (or may need) to be removed from the tank in the form of water changes, the marketing of this product is

"guarantee only having to change my water for a hassle free 12 months"

That's the problem. Unknowing fishkeepers may trust this to do all the work for them, and not do water changes. Many follow the directions of LFS to just run the filter for a week and add fish. Or just add the bacteria in a bottle and everything is done, etc.

 

[Chad]

I have a problem with that too. It's not in the best interests of our tanks not to change out the water. While many tanks (depending on bioload) can go a while without the water changes over the course of that time in many many ways that are harmful to the fish. In a reef tank water changes are vital to keep trace elements in the water that corals regularly remove rapidly.

To me...a product that states no water changes for 12 months isn't something I would buy or recommend because it promotes what I consider to be bad husbandry.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Agreed... But, that's how they will market it to the gullible, unfortunately. And that's where they make their money. These companies make their money on the ignorant and the unprepared.

Since I bought my initial set-up, I've purchased food and dechlorinator. Occasionally, I try a new plant for my tank, but that's about it. I don't buy a whole bunch of other stuff. (Oh, and I bought a new ammonia test kit.) Its been almost 2 years with this current tank, and for that tank, I've spent about $50 since the initial start-up costs. I'm starting a new tank now, but that's beside the point.

How much money do folks who don't cycle spend on their tanks after the initial set-up - in stock, chemicals, miracle products, etc.? Way more than that, and probably for much smaller tanks than my 55 gallon.

 

[Chad]

I'm with you, I keep it simple and don't go for all the latest gadgets. A properly set up tank, either planted, or a reef tank with a refugium does a very good job without all the gizmos in my experience.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Just to start a different tangent... Refugium or sump? ;-)