No end to dosing nitrates question

[Miami Reef]

I have a question that’s been on my mind for some time.

Let’s say someone has many many live rocks and a deep sand bed (for denitrifying bacteria to turn nitrates into nitrogen gas).

and let’s say this person needs to dose nitrates because their levels are too low...won’t increasing the nitrates cause the denitrifying bacteria to increase their population size? In turn requiring more and more nitrates added to maintain the same level?

 

[Miami Reef]

edit..

 

[mdb_talon]

I would suggest there is a limit. As it is you need a lot of live rock and/or DSB just to account for regular feedings. Certainly doable but I would not be concerned with it being a neverending cycle of needing to dose more and more nitrates because the capacity of your rocks and DSB to handle nitrates is limited.

 

[Dan_P]

I have a question that’s been on my mind for some time.

Let’s say someone has many many live rocks and a deep sand bed (for denitrifying bacteria to turn nitrates into nitrogen gas).

and let’s say this person needs to dose nitrates because their levels are too low...won’t increasing the nitrates cause the denitrifying bacteria to increase their population size? In turn requiring more and more nitrates added to maintain the same level?

The denitrifying bacteria population can’t keep increasing unchecked because of limited space and possibly running low on some other nutrients.

 

[Azedenkae]

The denitrifying bacteria population can’t keep increasing unchecked because of limited space and possibly running low on some other nutrients.

This.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a question that’s been on my mind for some time.

Let’s say someone has many many live rocks and a deep sand bed (for denitrifying bacteria to turn nitrates into nitrogen gas).

and let’s say this person needs to dose nitrates because their levels are too low...won’t increasing the nitrates cause the denitrifying bacteria to increase their population size? In turn requiring more and more nitrates added to maintain the same level?

That's possible, but denitritifaction is often organic carbon limited, not nitrate limited.

 

[Fourstars]

So if Thats true someone who is dosing nitrate should not dose a carbon source also?

 

[Miami Reef]

So if Thats true someone who is dosing nitrate should not dose a carbon source also?

Yes. Definitely stop or lower carbon dosing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, it is fine to dose both if you are doing it for a reason other than nitrate reduction, such as dosing the organic to drive bacteria that feed filter feeders.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

I have a question that’s been on my mind for some time.

Let’s say someone has many many live rocks and a deep sand bed (for denitrifying bacteria to turn nitrates into nitrogen gas).

and let’s say this person needs to dose nitrates because their levels are too low...won’t increasing the nitrates cause the denitrifying bacteria to increase their population size? In turn requiring more and more nitrates added to maintain the same level?

The denitrifying bacteria consume nitrates though?

 

[Fourstars]

Yes, that was what I was considering. I’m getting mud slurry from indo farms and thought id dose to drive bacteria production.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Do you need a DSB for mud? I know mud has benefits to phytoplankton and releases nutrients for things like soft coral and macros

 

[NoahLikesFish]

At the very least I’m going to make a mud jar and fill it with phyto for culturing.