BioNitrat Ex JBL

JBL BioNitrat Ex

Nitrates and phosphates are the main nutrients for algae. By removing them from the water, we prevent algae from growing!
However, bacteria only degrade nitrates under certain conditions: when there is no more oxygen and at the same time, they have a carbon source (bacteria food), the bacteria extract oxygen from the nitrates and thus eliminate them.

Operation of JBL BioNitratEx
With JBL BioNitratEx, bacteria colonize the surface of the balls within 4 weeks and form a thick biofilm. Under this film, an oxygen-poor zone is formed where bacteria enter the "nitrate respiration" phase and destroy the nitrate (NO3) that promotes algae. The bio-balls serve as food and the nitrates as oxygen suppliers for the bacteria. The bio-balls will therefore shrink over time (visually controllable), and eventually disappear completely. It takes 6 to 12 months, depending on the nitrate load. Then the bio-balls need to be recharged.

Snails: when snails get onto the JBL BioNitratEx balls, they devour the biofilms on their surfaces. Oxygen reaches the lower layers of bacteria again, which no longer need to extract it from nitrates and therefore do not destroy them. If there is a large quantity of snails, wrap the JBL BioNitratEx balls in a fine bag to block the snails' access.

Difference with JBL NitratEx
JBL BioNitratEx works in a purely biological way, through bacterial degradation. JBL NitratEx, on the other hand, is a synthetic resin that binds nitrates from the water (only freshwater!) and exchanges them for harmless chloride (ion exchange function). The advantage of this system is that you can also use it in emergencies, e.g., to remove nitrates from tap water or a well.