Removes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and organic substances.

Biological media with high porosity. Pore size well-suited for anaerobic bacteria. No risk of hydrogen sulfide production as with sulfur-containing media.

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 in the core area. The material has a large surface area and supports a high density of bacteria. Although de nitrate is capable of binding nitrate, this is quite limited, similar to other nitrate-binding materials such as certain zeolites and synthetic resins, and the primary mechanism for nitrate removal is anaerobic.

Live rock or reef rock removes nitrate through anaerobic denitrification. De nitrate removes nitrate through the same process. Efficiency is greatly enhanced 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 at the surface. Therefore, excessive flow rates should be avoided, as they can hinder the development of an appropriate anaerobic environment to support denitrifying bacteria.

De nitrate is also an excellent medium for aerobic nitrification and is ideally suited as a biological filter in drip trays, canister filters, sumps, or even box filters. At high flow rates (more than 100 US gallons per hour), it functions solely as an aerobic filter. At low flow rates (less than 50 US gallons per hour), it functions as both an aerobic filter and an anaerobic denitrification filter.