Denitrification

Bucknutz · Feb 1, 2015

What is your opinion on denitrification and live rock in aquariums. With todays mechanical filtration is the opinion of one pound of rock per one gallon of rock needed?

Could you do minimal rock such as tonga branches with a little bit of base rock, and no rock in the sump? At the same time have a shallow sand bed?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 1, 2015

For denitrification (conversion of nitrate to N2), many if not most peopel find the live rock is inadequate, and need other measures to control nitrate, such as growing macroalgae, ATS, denitrators, or organic carbon dosing. If you have adequate amounts of those, then you don't need any denitrification from live rock.