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Originally Posted by sporto0
Randy, do you find this to be an incorrect analysis? I'm not qualified to challenge your thesis, so I won't, but I will ask this question, even if nitrates are formed on the rock & sand must not they still enter the water column? How would we even be able to test for them if it were a conveyor belt type of exportation? Article Source: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php special thanks to dzfish17
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No, it does not need to enter the water column. Some certainly will, but some won't. Nitrate made 1/8" down into live sand or rock is 1/8" closer to denitrification than is nitrate formed on a bioball and hence necessarily out in the water column. Diffusion is all about concentrations. More nitrate 1/8" down means more nitrate reaching 1/2" down (or whatever) where denitrification takes place. Even nitrate formed on the very surface of live rock means the local concentration there is a bit higher, helping it diffuse down.