Ceramic rings - Do they really increase nitrates??

[Jack.pe]

In my local shop they advised me to use some Sera Sopirax ceramic rings, apprently these house beneficial bacteria which are supposed to help reduce nitrates... but I have also been told that the ceramic rings actually increase nitrates????

does anyone know how and why this happens when they are supposed to do the opposite?

Cheers

Jack

 

[reefman23]

The ceramic rings (and other media like bioballs and other forms of biological media, as well as mechanical medias such as filter socks and floss) lack an anaerobic area that allows for a complete nitrogen cycle. What does this mean? They are able to break the ammonia down to nitrites, nitrites to nitrates, but they miss the final step down to nitrogen gas. That final step can only be completed in an area lacking oxygen... anaerobic. So, you can be left with an excess of nitrates. It is sort of like a tank that never fully cycles.

HTH,

Jesse

 

[drty811]

YAHTZEE.....thats what i was triing to get at in the previous thread.

 

[Jack.pe]

ok, i'm starting to make sense of it, does this mean that Live rock instead does the hwole process, incuding the last step through to nitrogen gas because the rock has anaerobc areas which can break down the nitrogen, whereas the rings do not??

Also, I have heard that stuff like Chaeto helps as well, where on this cyle does this fit in? right at the beginning by taking up excess organic matter that then does not turn into Ammonia??

Thanks for the help guys, really appreciate it, the bigger picture is staring to form in my head... now at day 5 of my new 24G cube, the green stuff is staring to form... my live rock was taken straight from the latest shipment to the shop so although I got first pick I think this means my cycle might last a bit longer as the rock was not cured in any way (i.e it had not been in the shop's tanks for a few days first to shed the majority of it's decaying matter, it went straight from the despatch boxes to my tank).

 

[reefman23]

ok, i'm starting to make sense of it, does this mean that Live rock instead does the hwole process, incuding the last step through to nitrogen gas because the rock has anaerobc areas which can break down the nitrogen, whereas the rings do not??

Correct.

Also, I have heard that stuff like Chaeto helps as well, where on this cyle does this fit in? right at the beginning by taking up excess organic matter that then does not turn into Ammonia??

It is somewhere in the middle. It absorbs the nitrogenous compounds and uses them... along with light.. to grow. Then, when the Chaeto grows, you remove some and that completes the export of the nitrogenous wastes.

Thanks for the help guys, really appreciate it, the bigger picture is staring to form in my head... now at day 5 of my new 24G cube, the green stuff is staring to form... my live rock was taken straight from the latest shipment to the shop so although I got first pick I think this means my cycle might last a bit longer as the rock was not cured in any way (i.e it had not been in the shop's tanks for a few days first to shed the majority of it's decaying matter, it went straight from the despatch boxes to my tank).

I think that getting "uncured" live rock results in some very diverse life on the rock. But like you mentioned, it also results in a longer cycle. Try to siphon out as much, if any, detritus that collects on the sand bed. Uncured live rock can have a lot of die-off.

Jesse

 

[Jack.pe]

Thanks Jesse, have already taken out a bit of crap and will take out some more in a week or so. Have not put in live sand yet because did not want it to mix with all the crap falling off the live rock..

 

[djconn]

I would also suggest trying to get your hands on some 'live sand' or seeded sand from an established tank, especially if starting new. It really adds to the biodiversity. If not, no biggie. That can be addressed later on...

 

[Jack.pe]

Thanks...
The sand I have is "live sand" but not from a tank, it is in a packet but biologically active..is this what you are referring to?

 

[reefman23]

Thanks...
The sand I have is "live sand" but not from a tank, it is in a packet but biologically active..is this what you are referring to?

That'll do. That is what I used to start up my AP.

Jesse

 

[djconn]

Yup, off to a great start!