Xport NO3 Cubes Instructions

Ultra-activated Denitrification Media, doped with Elemental Sulfur for Superior Performance Characteristics

Overview

  • Designed to be used in marine and hard freshwater aquariums with a pH of 7.5 or over
  • Utilizes NanoIntelex Technology to create an enhanced, "ultra-activated" material with the capacity to outperform conventional denitrification media by over 300%
  • Open structure and high surface area results in superior flow-through characteristics and filtration efficiency.  Provides over 71,000 square feet of useable surface area per liter of cubes.  This is higher than another know filtration medium in the world by a factor of at least 10 times.
  • Higher efficiency relative to conventional media results in smaller space requirements to achieve equivalent denitrification.
  • Eliminates the need to perform water changes that are carried out for the express purpose of decreasing nitrate in an aquarium system.
  • May be used in conjunction with Xport Bio Cubes and Xport PO4 Cubes

Instructions and Guidelines

Use about 2 to 4 Xport NO3 Cubes for every 10 U.S. gallons ( 38 L ) of system capacity, more for heavy bio loads.  Rinse material well with aquarium water or purified tap water to remove any dust. For superior results, seed the material using only the specific bacteria product that you are using in the aquarium.  If using MicrōBacter Start XLM, use one capful to seed  (add balance of bacteria directly to the aquarium).  If using FlorinBacter7, MicrōBacter7 or MicrōBacterCLEAN add full recommended dose. Place XPort NO3 Cubes in a plastic container, filling it with aquarium water, and then add the bacterial product, based on the size of your aquarium, to that container. Allow to stand overnight and then add the seeded XPort Bio Cubes to your system. Discard the soak water. It is recommended that you use sponge, fine filter floss or other mechanical filtration ahead of XPort Bio Cubes to prevent clogging with organic material. For maximum results, also provide a good carbon source for growing bacteria, such as Brightwell® Katalyst bio pellets or liquid Reef BioFuel or FlorinAxis as appropriate for your aquarium, as directed on their label. For maximum nitrification, place in an area of good flow with good oxygenation. For maximum denitration, create an anoxic zone (a zone of very low oxygen) for the cubes by severely limiting water flow through the chamber that you place them in.  If you don't have a suitable anoxic zone, then place the cubes in a plastic jar with a plastic lid.  Drill two small holes in the lid on the top to allow the nitrogen gas bubbles that will form to escape and two small holes near the bottom of the jar on the vertical surface of the side.  All holes should be 3/16" or 5 mm in diameter.  Place the jar in an area of mild to low flow.  This will significantly increase the amount of NO3 that the Xport can remove.

Recommendation:  Do not use different bacteria products in an aquarium, particularly during startup!  When an aquarium is new, the available nutrients for bacteria to consume are scarce and if the kind of bacteria you introduce requires organics, they will likely not be available and the two different bacterial cultures can fight each other.  It is best to start out with MicrōBacter Start and cycle the tank, and then progress to MicrōBacterCLEAN at cycling completion.  Then progress to MicrōBacter7 or FlorinBacter7at 4 to 6 months of age.  This will provide the cleanest and fastest route to meet your goals and provide a beautiful and sustainable bacterial ecosystem.  Particularly do not introduce foreign strains of bacteria such as "live sand", pre-cultured dry man made "live rock," etc.  It is ok to use rocks from other aquariums that have already cycled and live rock purchased from stores.  All forms of man made or natural live rock (except dry pre-cultured), aragonite and marco rock will work fine.   If you introduce the wrong strains of bacteria, at the wrong time, you can slow down the whole process. 

Important:  Do not fluidize or allow to rub against other filtration material which could cause grinding down.

Note that the required amount of Xport NO3 Cubes will change as the system matures, and as biomass and/or stocking density changes. Denitrification relies on adequate organic carbon availability; if [NO3] stops decreasing during the first month of use and no significant increase in bioload, stocking density, or nutrient input rate has occurred during this period, then it is likely that organic carbon or phosphate is limiting. As recommended above, the use of Katalyst, Reef BioFuel, or FlorinAxis (planted aquaria) per the instructions on the respective labels will be required to provide this carbon; NeoPhos or Florin-P will provide phosphorus. Replace ~25% of the total Xport NO3 Cubes employed every 3 - 4 months in high-bioload systems, and every 6 - 8 months in low-nutrient systems. Maximum rate of denitrification is achieved by placing Xport NO3 Cubes in-line with, and downstream from, Xport Bio Cubes. Xport PO4 Cubes may be used downstream from Xport NO3 Cubes to facilitate complete phosphate uptake; do not place Xport-PO4 upstream from Xport-NO3, which will inhibit denitrification.

Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Not for human use or consumption.