DIY denitrator any risk?

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batang_mcdo

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 24, 2006
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Manila
Hi,

I'm planning to make a diy coil denitrator, is there any risk to the fish? like messing up the tank filters?
would like to make one to add to my 8 ft tank which is heavilystocked. i do weekly 30 - 50 % water change but would like to add a denitrator .
would there be any risk to my fish if i added a denitrator? liek would ammonia/nitrite be produce or any other harmful substance be produced?
also what should be the flowrate of a denitrator?

thanks.
 
If done wrong ammonia, carbon dioxide and most importantly hydrogen sulfide can enter your tank.

Return from a de-nitrator is on the order of a drip or trickle, definitely not a flow.

These are used mostly for S/W tanks and places where water is a cost factor (commercial aquariums).

Once you get one up & running you just have to monitor its output occasionally, but this could take 6 months to get there.

It's a nice project (wow factor) if you have the room and patience for it.

Hope this helped,

Dr Joe

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I made one simply and cheaply by using a 50m coil of black 4mm micro-irrigation tube. Important to use black tube to eliminate algae. If you use a slow flow rate, the oxygen will soon get stripped which will create the anaerobic environment your after. The danger is that it can produce Hydrogen sulphide but I directed the output into the gassing chamber of my trickle and not directly back into a tank. I tried to get the slowest flow I could yet never have it stop. Several drops per minute. Not terribly scientific and I am not sure how effective it was but it was mostly for the fun of trying.

I have heard great results from using plenums on salt water tanks though. Plenums are deep undisturbed substrates and if it works for salt, it should work for fresh.
 
fishdance;966795; said:
I made one simply and cheaply by using a 50m coil of black 4mm micro-irrigation tube.1) Important to use black tube to eliminate algae. If you use a slow flow rate, the oxygen will soon get stripped which will create the anaerobic environment your after. The danger is that it can produce Hydrogen sulphide but I directed the output into the gassing chamber of my trickle and not directly back into a tank. I tried to get the slowest flow I could yet never have it stop. Several drops per minute. Not terribly scientific and I am not sure how effective it was but it was mostly for the fun of trying.

I have heard great results from using plenums on salt water tanks though. Plenums are deep undisturbed substrates and 2)if it works for salt, it should work for fresh.
Click to expand...

1) I take it you didn't make it inside a lg PVC pipe then?

2) Dangerous assumption. S/W systems may use live sand, large areas of anerobic activity in a F/W substrate could be devastating to most fish.

Dr Joe

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Lack of green algae is important since algae growth would produce oxygen. (photosynthesis). I dont understand what you mean by not making it inside a lg PVC pipe. I guess I am missing something? I had 50m of black tubing in a coil which I left in a sump.

Agreed about the plenum sounding risky but they dont use live sand, they really do use deep undisturbed substrate to produce anaerobic zones. I spent a bit of time looking into them and visited some very experienced marine collectors and commercial operators who endorsed them. Problem was the substrate was THICK... like almost half tank depth and took a long time to setup. I was convinced they do work on salt but I never tried on fresh water since I dont like to use substrate.
 
wow thanks for the replies.
think the components to build a sulfur denitrator will be hard to find here.
also worried about hydrogen sulfide . will have to buy test kits and try :) but it would be great to have a working denitrator even if it only fully function after 6months :)
 
why dont you use the de-nirate media? im running it on 2 tanks and it really works. very easy to keep it running and no fear for side effects.
 
StiffMeister;968364; said:
why dont you use the de-nirate media? im running it on 2 tanks and it really works. very easy to keep it running and no fear for side effects.
Click to expand...

Which one?
 
Dr Joe;968521; said:
Which one?
Click to expand...

I'll check at home. I have an american and a german media which purports to take out nitrates and phosphates....
 
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