Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sunybcs!boulder!baldwin
From: baldwin@boulder.Colorado.EDU (D. Baldwin)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Denitrification
Keywords: Denitrify
Message-ID: <15780@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 17 Jan 90 22:09:13 GMT
Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU
Reply-To: baldwin@boulder.Colorado.EDU (D. Baldwin)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Lines: 13


  I have a 55 gal marine tank which I am converting from a fish only to a mixture of
fish and inverts. My nitrate readings are OK for fish but too high for more delicate
creatures. I am in the process of constructing a denitrifying filter. Basically water
from the lower depths of my tank will slowly drip into a "dark" box containing sponge
blocks fed with Coral life Ana food. The output from the sponge blocks will drip at the
same rate into the sump of my wet/dry filter. First question: Has anyone out there
had any experience with denitrification, ala the type of filter I am trying or
algae scrubbers or Nitrex boxes ? If so what can I expect ? If the system I am trying is
realistic , what should the flow rate be in terms of gal/day ? Should I feed the
anerobic bacteria according to the instructions on the Ana food ? Any advice or
comments will be appreciated.
			Dan Baldwin