Nitrate filter
A nitrate filter is a device in an aquarium that can be used to remove nitrate ions, which are generated in the biological nitrogen cycle , from the water.
The principle is based on the fact that some bacteria, instead of elemental oxygen , can also breathe the oxygen bound in the nitrate and thereby release elemental nitrogen . This process requires a source of food that can be oxidized (as an oxygen acceptor) . Were tested as a carbon source z. B. alcohol (e.g. in a vodka filter ) or paraffin balls .
- Nitrate resin filter
Nitrate-selective resins act as anion exchangers to free nitrate-contaminated water from nitrate . During the nitrate exchange, nitrate ions are exchanged for chloride ions, which is why the total salt content remains unchanged. The anion exchanger is regenerated with a 10% saline solution, reversing the process and replacing the nitrate ion attached to the resin with a chloride ion.
