Denitrification Media for Nitrates specifically

[Hunter S Thompson]

Hey guys, I'm hoping to get some ideas or recommendations for substances/media that are well suited to reducing Nitrates through creation of low oxygen areas. I'm thinking, the benefit of a deep sand bed without the space required or the nutrient sink problems.
So far I have found a few candidates, but most seem to be quite porous and designed primarily for the beginning of the nitrogen cycle, reducing ammonia and nitrite. Something most reef keepers have plenty of capacity for. Also the larger the pores, the more nutrients/gunk ends up in those pores, right? Are there any products or materials that are dense and well suited to housing Nitrate reducing bacteria specifically?

Some of the candidates:
Sintered Glass - I have only ever seen this sold in small pieces and water freely flows through it, so I'm assuming it is not a good candidate.
Ceramic - Nice that it can come in any shape or size. Seems to be continually debated.
Seachem Matrix - Small pebbles, claims to remove Nitrates
Cermedia MarinePure - Love the shape/size. Seems too porous. Reportedly only the 4" thick block helps with Nitrates, making me think it's not very efficient. I'm looking for the middle of the live rock, not the outside.

Can you guys think of any other candidate materials, or are there products out there that I'm unaware of?

 

[Cory]

Your looking for a special media to counteract orgaic build up while performing denitrification?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While there is some minor concern about released aluminum from some of these, people seem to be quite successful reducing nitrate with Cermedia MarinePure. I might actually use a smaller piece than recommended, at least initially, so nitrate does not get too low.

Also bear in mind that some soluble organic carbon dosing can help with all of these as the denitrification processes requires organics. If you are not dosing any, the process is relying on organics naturally present, which may limit the process.