Commercial Products

TMC Nitrate Filter

Denitrification: Nitrate Filters

Nitrate (NO3-) is produced in aquaculture, aquarium and pond systems from the breakdown of ammonia and nitrate. Consequently, this by-product of biological filtration accumulates in the system. At high concentrations, nitrate can be harmful to fish, cause excessive algal growth and prevent growth in corals and other invertebrates. The optimal level for nitrate in most healthy systems should be 10–30 mg/l. The most common practice for reducing the nitrate level is to perform regular water changes. However, in reality it is expensive and impractical to replenish the system water frequently enough to achieve the optimal nitrate level when relying solely on water changes.

Nitrate Filters contain bacterial growing media to encourage the growth of beneficial, anaerobic (non-oxygen-using) denitrifying bacteria that biologically breakdown nitrate into harmless di-nitrogen (N2).

Like all biological filters, most Nitrate Filters require a period of maturation to allow sufficient bacterial growth, and this process may take a few weeks. Once fully matured, the nitrate level in the aquaculture system, aquarium or pond will remain permanently low, improving water quality and reducing the need for water changes.

TMC Nitrate Filter

The TMC Nitrate Filter (NFT5200A) enhances water quality and improves the health of aquatic organisms by removing the nitrate that accumulates as a byproduct of biological filtration.

The TMC Nitrate Filter contains specially designed sulphur growing media that encourages the denitrifying bacteria that biologically breakdown nitrate.

In conventional nitrate filters low pH in the return water can be a problem. However, the unique return system on the TMC Nitrate Filter ensures that the pH of water returning to the system is buffered.

The TMC Nitrate Filter has an adjustable flow valve to make maturing and commissioning of the filter simple and efficient, and making it possible to perform future refinements to the system.

Technical Details