DIY Denitrator

[soggysandwich]

I have one on my tank. I didn't "feed" it to get it started. Mine works purely on a gravity feed, and then dumps into the top of my sump. Only time I gravel vac is to clear up debris. Nitrates never get higher than 10 ppm MAX.

what happens when there is a power outage?

 

[johnptc]

I have one on my tank. I didn't "feed" it to get it started. Mine works purely on a gravity feed, and then dumps into the top of my sump. Only time I gravel vac is to clear up debris. Nitrates never get higher than 10 ppm MAX.

The hardest part of maintaining a Denitrator is flow adjustment. If your flow is too fast, Oxygen isn't propperly depleted, and the filter won't work. If you go too slow, the water in the filter will stagnate, and the possibility that hydrogen sulfides might be produced. You’ll know when this happens as the odor of the water leaving the reactor will smell like rotten eggs.

when running correctly....is there any odor different than the tank ???

thanks

 

[cassharper]

So when the coil clogs, you just replace the coil and give it a while to kick back in?

 

[JayDial]

I have basically the same de-nitrator as Aro. After some down time because of the lid popping off mine i have it back up and running. First week readings: de-nitrator 160ppm / tank 160ppm. WC time! I will post back once the readings change.

 

[ar0wan]

since you arent feeding.....what do the anoxic bacteria eat to break up the nitrates ???

um... idk. This is my first try currently @about (6)m. I'm under skimmed so I've got too many proteins floating around maybe they feed on these? I hope it doesn't deplete the food source and then just die.

I have no difference in smell from the tank and the effluent (I check this weekly as well).

If the coil clogs I'll try to blast it with a higher pressure pump, when unsucessful it's rebuild time!

 

[L.BelcherII]

Sorry I didn't stick around to answer questions, and havn't been around since.

I use the overflow from my sump to feed the denitrator too, so during a power outage, only so much water will drain from the tank as the overflow will allow. Then depending on how long the power outage lasted (if a sufficient airbubble was created), the filter may need to reset itself.

No there is no smell when it's running propperly.

 

[JayDial]

Well i would have some updated readings for mine, but the hose kept coming off the pump that feeds the de-nitrator. I kept having to pump out 5 gallons through the dn to get rid of the smell. its been running for a few days now and i'll get some readings this week.

 

[Expert]

 

[JayDial]

Alright so we are still about the same 160 DN / 160 Tank, but its only been running for about a week. I need to silicone the hose to the pump so it never comes off. Its a huge hassle when the water goes stagnent. My tank params are all over the place right now.

PH 8.8
Nitrates 120 -> 160
Salinity 1.018

Poor fish!

 

[mikeandannie]

I use the overflow from my sump to feed the denitrator too, so during a power outage, only so much water will drain from the tank as the overflow will allow. Then depending on how long the power outage lasted (if a sufficient airbubble was created), the filter may need to reset itself.

Any way you could get some pics up? if not could you plz tell me a little more on how it works.

Also cool build aro