Nitrate breakdown with sera siporax: What kind of filter is suitable?
I've read that your product sera siporax can handle nitrate. Can I use a canister filter to achive this function? If so, what would be a good filter setup be to achive this? I'm thinking of flow rate through the filter, amount of sera siporax and what else I should use in the filter, like prefilter etc. The tank that I would use to test this in is a heavily stocked 400 liter (88 US gal.) tank.
Hello,
an external filter is possible. The filter type isn't that important - both internal and external setups will work just fine.
The setup is pretty simple:
- the first step is mechanical filtration, e.g. sera biopur (clay tubes) or sera biofibres. The amount depends on the waste amount, practical values range from 0.5 liters - 1 liter (0.1 - 0.2 US gal.).
- The main step is biological filtration with sera siporax Professional. In this case I recommend about 4 liters plus a relatively slow flow rate [200 - 400 liters (44 - 88 US gal.) per hour]. After a few weeks (activation period) this will take nitrate values down considerably.
There is, however, another way: a separate slow flux filter in addition to the normal biofilter. This filter (a passive bypass system is OK) should then hold 2 liters sera siporax Professional, with a water flow rate of only 1 - 2 liters/h (0.2 - 0.4 US gph) - no typing error! This setup will produce virtually nitrate-free water.
Best regards
sera GmbH
Dr. Bodo Schnell