Possibly to buy denitrifying bacteria supplement? (1 Viewer)

[bwp]

Hi - Does anyone know of a product that will add denitrifying bacteria (the stuff that reduces Nitrate to N2) to my tank? Everything I have seen for sale is Nitrifying bacteria (converts ammonia to nitrite/nitrate).

Or is this something that is present in the environment and will ultimately make it into the tank over time?

Thanks!
Bryan

 

[frankc]

I have never heard of such a product, but yes, they will naturally populate your tank over time, especially if you have a deep sand bed.

 

[Diesel]

Why you asking this?

Nitrate reducing bacteria multiply quickly as long as they have a source of food, namely ammonia from fish and food wastes.
Nitrosonomas bacteria reduces ammonia to nitrite and nitrobacter bacteria reduces nitrites to nitrates which can then be consumed by many anaerobic or facultative bacteria strains living in a deep sand bed or deep in live rock where it is oxygen starved.

 

[bwp]

Exactly. I am looking for the anaerobic bacteria


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[Diesel]

Well, I have them in my tank as many other hobbyist too.
That is if your tank is cycled for a while.
After cycling your tank with bacterial cultures and enzymes and a host of other additives to get the bacterial load to optimal levels.
You tank will be safe to stock a fish in order to build up a kind of equilibrium.
Once that happens your anaerobic or facultative bacteria will set to grow rapidly in your substrate or live rock.
Some reefers still run a DSB for this, with the awesome LR we have now days DSB are something of the past.
Reason is that hydrogen sulphide gas in large quantities can be trapped and once given off it can cause fish to die fairly quickly if exposed to it.
Everyone knows that rotten egg smell.
That said, I have never ever seen anaerobic or facultative bacteria for sale, it's the process of cycling you going through, with or with out help of a bacterial supplement that can spike your tank.