kau_cinta_ku
New member
just wondering like with phosphates or copper and some sort they can be absorbed into LR. and in time leak out. was just wondering if the same could be done with nitrates.
nitrate question.
- Thread starter kau_cinta_ku
- Start date
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
Yes.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
i have been constantly battling nitrates for 1.5 years sence i have put this rock into my tank from another reefer. how long will it take to leak it all back out or is this a never ending battle?
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
Oh i am quiet sure, on many, many occasions I've taken rock out my predator tanks and it took over a year of cooking the rock to get the NO3 levels to zero and stay there between water changes. PO4 levels were about half that time.
and yes it can be all leached back out but the length of time depends on how dense the rock is, water flow, the levels it was kept in previously (concentration of NO3 in the rock now) and how often you do water changes, the lower the ratio of water around the rock to the levels in the rock the quicker it's going to all be drawn out. yes some will be converted to nitrogen gas inside the rock, but it's not 100% efficient, trust me.
MCsaxmaster
New member
Other than what's in the pore water inside the rock, no nitrate cannot be leached from the rock. Phosphate can adsorb to the calcium carbonate (though, really not very much). Nitrate does not do that.
cj
cj
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
then please explain to us how it is we can place rock that's been in a high NO3 level system into newly made RO/DI salt mix water that has 0 NO3 with a PinPoint monitor and within a few days the NO3 levels are steadily creeping up and continue to do so for some time???
also if you'll check out that little PO4 testing thread i did a few weeks ago you'll see that a good bit of PO4 is held in the rock too and it's heavily leached back out once the surrounding water has lower PO4 levels. and NO, it's not because it was precipitated out with CaCO3, the pH levels are at sufficient levels that any bonded PO4 is held bonded.
MCsaxmaster
New member
Sounds like there is decomposition and nitrification happening to me 
As I said though, nitrate does not and cannot physically bond to the rock or anything in it. Nitrate does not behave in that way.
As I said though, nitrate does not and cannot physically bond to the rock or anything in it. Nitrate does not behave in that way.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
kinda hard for bare rock to decompose, but hey i ain't no marine biologist like yourself, and I've only been keeping marine tanks since before you were even born so my experience is inferior I'm sure 
kau_cinta_ku
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10584781#post10584781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MCsaxmaster
Sounds like there is decomposition and nitrification happening to me
As I said though, nitrate does not and cannot physically bond to the rock or anything in it. Nitrate does not behave in that way.
ok on that note how come i can take a rock from my tank. put it in a 10 gal. tank with new saltwater and after 3 monthes and 100% weekly water changes i still get a reading of 40ppm of nitrates using 3 diff. test kits. not that i am doubting anyone but just want to get down to the bottom of my nitrate problems. i am fed up with them.
MCsaxmaster
New member
Well, actually bare rock does decompose, though I doubt much of the rock was decomposing
Consider though, was it simply mineral that you added? If the rock was housed in an aquarium as you say, then certainly it was choked full of living things.
Also, I'm not sure why you're taking this personally or getting defensive???
Consider though, was it simply mineral that you added? If the rock was housed in an aquarium as you say, then certainly it was choked full of living things.
Also, I'm not sure why you're taking this personally or getting defensive???
MCsaxmaster
New member
As I said, there is decomposition and nitrification happening. Nitrate is being produced as organic material is decomposed. It is not in any way bonded to the rock.
cj
kau_cinta_ku
New member
how do you suggest getting rid of what ever is decomposing to stop it?
BTW thanks for the help everyone
BTW thanks for the help everyone
MCsaxmaster
New member
Can you tell us more about the situation? Nitrate will always be produced, however, it is in very low concentration in nature due primarily to fast rates of assimilation sucking it up. If you have elevated nitrate in a tank you need to increase assimilation and, probably, reduce production.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
it was dry base rock added to a predator tank, other then trigger poop and bacteria not much else was on it.
MCsaxmaster
New member
As I said, decomposition and nitrification were occuring....
Jet
then please explain to us how it is we can place rock that's been in a high NO3 level system into newly made RO/DI salt mix water that has 0 NO3 with a PinPoint monitor and within a few days the NO3 levels are steadily creeping up and continue to do so for some time???
Your RO/DI water killed the bacteria which are decomposing and releasing NO3-. The is one heck of a shift in their osmotic pressure. Not to mention the organics trapped in the rock decaying
then please explain to us how it is we can place rock that's been in a high NO3 level system into newly made RO/DI salt mix water that has 0 NO3 with a PinPoint monitor and within a few days the NO3 levels are steadily creeping up and continue to do so for some time???
Your RO/DI water killed the bacteria which are decomposing and releasing NO3-. The is one heck of a shift in their osmotic pressure. Not to mention the organics trapped in the rock decaying
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
yeah i know, and it decomposed for over a year too.
Boom
you can't convince me a hundred pound of rock took 100% water changes weekly for over a year to get that little bit of decomposing bacteria out of it. that RO/DI water had 35ppt salt mixed with it you know.
Boom
you can't convince me a hundred pound of rock took 100% water changes weekly for over a year to get that little bit of decomposing bacteria out of it. that RO/DI water had 35ppt salt mixed with it you know.
MCsaxmaster
New member
Ok? So, detritus is decomposed liberating ammonia. Some of this is processed by nitrifiers produced nitrate....
Again, nitrate was not and cannot be leached from rock as you are suggesting.
Again, nitrate was not and cannot be leached from rock as you are suggesting.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
ok a little about my tank.
75 gal. main tank
30 gal. sump/fuge has cheato and calpera(sp.) but not really growing
90lbs of LR
1.5" sand
mag9.5 return pump.
seio 1100 maxijet mod for water movement
2 phosphate reactors 1 for carbon (changes every 2 weeks) 1 for phosphate remover (changed once a month)
1 filter sock changed every 2 days
asm G2 skimmer (cup and neck changed every 2 weeks)
15 gal. water change every sunday
purelyh2o optima pro rodi filter 0 TDS
for feedings i feed 1 1"x2" sheet of nori and half cube of mysis shrimp per day, switching the mysis to a mix of table shrimp and squid everyother day.
fish
2 - percs male 2" female 3.5"
1 - 4" yellow tang
1 - 1.5" hippo tang
1 - 1.5"pajama cardinal
1 - lawnmower blenny
any other info you needed?
75 gal. main tank
30 gal. sump/fuge has cheato and calpera(sp.) but not really growing
90lbs of LR
1.5" sand
mag9.5 return pump.
seio 1100 maxijet mod for water movement
2 phosphate reactors 1 for carbon (changes every 2 weeks) 1 for phosphate remover (changed once a month)
1 filter sock changed every 2 days
asm G2 skimmer (cup and neck changed every 2 weeks)
15 gal. water change every sunday
purelyh2o optima pro rodi filter 0 TDS
for feedings i feed 1 1"x2" sheet of nori and half cube of mysis shrimp per day, switching the mysis to a mix of table shrimp and squid everyother day.
fish
2 - percs male 2" female 3.5"
1 - 4" yellow tang
1 - 1.5" hippo tang
1 - 1.5"pajama cardinal
1 - lawnmower blenny
any other info you needed?
