NITRATE REMOVER 4L Seachem

de❊nitrate™ 4L SEACHEM

- Eliminates nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and organic matter
- Biological environments with high porosity
- Pore size well-suited for anaerobic bacteria
- No danger of hydrogen sulfide production as with sulfur-based media

Overview

De❊nitrate™ is an economical, natural porous material with a pore distribution and geometry that promotes both aerobic nitrification in the first few millimeters of depth and anaerobic denitrification at the core. The material has a high surface area and supports a high density of bacteria.

Although de❊nitrate™ has the ability to trap nitrate, this, as with other nitrate-retaining materials such as certain zeolites and synthetic resins, is quite limited, and the primary mechanism for nitrate removal is anaerobic.

Living reef rocks remove nitrate through anaerobic denitrification. de❊nitrate™ eliminates nitrate through the same process. The efficiency is amplified several times by forcing water to filter through the porous de❊nitrate™. As with reef rock, anaerobic conditions are achieved through porosity and oxygen depletion by the aerobic process on the surface.

Excessive flow rates should therefore be avoided, as they can hinder the development of an adequate anaerobic environment to support denitrifying bacteria.

Denitrate™ is also an excellent medium for aerobic nitrification and makes an ideal biological filter in trickle filters, cartridge filters, sumps, or even canister filters.

At high flow rates (over 100 US gallons per hour), it will function only as an aerobic filter. At slow flow rates (less than 50 US gallons per hour), it will function both as an aerobic filter and an anaerobic denitrifying filter.

Sizes: 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 L, 2 L, 4 L

Instructions

For best results, de❊nitrate™ should be placed to ensure water flows through it, such as in a cartridge filter, a chemical filtration module, or a housing filter.

The flow rate must not exceed 200 L (50 US gallons) per hour. If higher flow rates are unavoidable, use Matrix™ or Pond Matrix™.

It is preferable to rinse off the dust before use.

Once de❊nitrate™ has been used for several days, nitrate concentrations should begin to decrease and gradually stabilize at a concentration of about 4 to 5 mg/L in the form of nitrate.

As long as the nitrate concentrations remain under control, the product is not depleted. Each 500 mL of de❊nitrate™ treats approximately 100–200 L (25–50 US gallons), depending on the initial nitrate concentration and the current biological load.

It is necessary to use enough to eliminate the nitrate at a speed that is at least as fast as the rate of formation.

If very high nitrates are initially present, they must be reduced to less than 20 mg/L with water changes.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How much nitrate will the de❊nitrate™ remove?

It is recommended that if nitrate levels are very high, they be reduced to at least 20 ppm through water changes before using the de❊nitrate. At this point, the de❊nitrate™ will bring nitrate levels down to 4-5 ppm after several days of use. Since de❊nitrate, Matrix, and Pond Matrix are all biological media, they never get exhausted, but they can become less effective with use due to clogging of pores. Pre-filtering the water before it passes through these products extends their lifespan.

What allows den❊nitrate™ to function anaerobically at flow rates below 50 GPH?

It is the porosity of this material that allows it to function at this water flow rate. When water passes through this medium, oxygen is used by aerobic bacteria that live on the outer crust of this medium. When the water penetrates the inner crust of this medium, it comes into contact with groups of bacteria that live in the oxygen-deficient conditions of the inner parts of this medium, which naturally consume and eliminate nitrate.

The instructions indicate that the flow rate through the de❊nitrate™ should not exceed 50 gallons per hour, but most filters on the market flow much faster than that. How can you achieve such a slow flow rate?

The best way to achieve this is to use a continuous flow (also known as a "dummy can"). Other alternatives include restricting water to a regular can, placing it in a sump, or using a box filter with restricted intake.

Should I use Matrix™ or de❊nitrate? It seems that they both eliminate nitrate.

Matrix™ is preferable when you want a versatile filtering medium to house both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria or when you cannot install a filter with a flow rate lower than 50 gallons per hour. It will remove nitrate, but not as much as de❊nitrate™. de❊nitrate™ is better when you specifically want to remove nitrate and already have a lot of biomedia for aerobic bacteria.

How often should I rinse or replace the de❊nitrate?

De❊nitrate™ is a biomedia, which means it does not get depleted over time, so you should never need to replace it. That being said, de❊nitrate™ can become clogged with debris and sludge, so we recommend pre-filtering the water using a sponge or filter floss to extend the product's lifespan.