[APD] Re:NO3 Management

[Paul Krombholz <krombhol at teclink_net>]

    * From: Phil Bunch <pbunch at cox_net>
   
> I took note of the suggestion to use an out-of-tank hydroponic filter as
> one means of removing NO3 from aquarium water. Has anyone one designed an
> out-of-tank anaerobic system for nitrogen removal? I can see some problems
> that would have to be overcome but it sounds possible. Possibly a
> deoxengenator on the input and return through an air reactor?

I have had an idea for a nitrate remover, and I have put one or two 
of them in an aquarium, but I have not tested NO3  levels to see if 
the thing removes it.    Actually, I was thinking of it as a possible 
CO2 producer, and it does produce a steady supply of bubbles, but I 
do not think that very much of the gas produced was CO2.  If it 
wasn't producing CO2, perhaps it was producing nitrogen (which would 
have had to have come from nitrate reduction).  The only other  gas 
that it could produce would be methane.  I suppose that one could 
capture some and see if it burns. 

WARNING! this is another one of my weird ideas that do not exactly 
set off a stampede of others to try them out, such as CO2 additions 
from my own exhaled air,  and using capillary tubing to control flow 
of CO2 from a pressurized tank rather than a needle valve. 

Take a shallow tray and put about 1/4 inch of uncooked oatmeal flakes 
on the bottom.  Cover with 1/2 inch to 1 inch of gravel.  Place in 
aquarium.  The oatmeal will become intensely anaerobic, but the 
gravel covering will limit exchange with the water.  If the water, 
itself, becomes cloudy  then you need a deeper gravel layer or a 
smaller tray.   Nitrate that diffuses into the gravel should be 
converted to atmospheric nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria.  The 
question is, how efficiently would such a set-up remove nitrate? 
Only testing will tell. 

--
Paul Krombholz in soggy central Mississippi, cooling down to below freezing.
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