Method to improve biological nitrate reduction?

[djbon]

There is nothing new about live rocks capability to process nutrients as good as other methods. I would say live rocks loaded with bacteria and other stuffs (good one off course) works much better due to the fact that they are self regulating without much intervention from us. I have been running mine in such manner (no WC, without skimmer, mechanical filters, GFO or other chemical absorbent) for years with no major issue.

 

[hottuna]

hottuna - I too am old school and ran a Jaubert plenum style tank 30 years ago. Got away from it as the hobby changed. As i recall the scary thing about the plenum or deep sand beds in general is the possibility of disruption in the bed causing release of a bunch of nasties. You have not had that happen?

No shellsea,,,that is one of the plenum "fallacies" ...set up properly and left alone a plenum will reduce nitrate for yrs...a second screen layer about 1 inch below the top of the sand bed prevents burrowing and disturbing the bed...

other than that - just leave it alone and let it do it's thing....

 

[PeteStarks]

I have been having pretty good luck with a DIY algae scrubber and a bio pellet reactor. I have spent 10 years chasing fads and those 2 things have been the only ones to actually stick and improve my tank. I'm not saying that there will never be a better alternative, but those 2 solutions check a ton of boxes for most reef tanks.

 

[Maivortex]

Good luck buying potassium nitrate. Sodium nitrate would be easier but when you add this rock from a bucket into a system with high flow, it will have due off. Also there are toxicity limkts, 100 ppm nitrate may kill nitrate reducing bacteria......