DIY Denitrator

[L.BelcherII]

try here
http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bldondiydenitratornew.htm

I also just bumped my thread too with pics.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2013494#post2013494

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

I didn't read toooo far into this thread but thought I would mention that there are new nitrate reduction filters out there that run off of sulfur and only need to be recharged every 2-3 years, rather than constantly being fed. Initially there was a problem of the water coming out too acidic and creating a rotten egg odor, but it was solved by adding crushed coral to the filter to resupply calcium to the water on exit.

I'm not sure if it would be somthing feasible in DiY without a lot of knowledge into the process, as it's been an ongoing experiment for a long time before it was put into commercial use - but here's a link to one of the systems:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~filters_korallin_biodenitrator.html

I read through ReefCentral a bit to see if anyone had used this and there's a lengthy 20+ page thread about this very system stating that it works great, taking 50+ ppm down to 0 ppm in 3-7 weeks depending on the competency of the user in keeping the waters anoxic in the filter.

Just thought I'd share, I'm thinking about putting one on my 180 gallon as the nitrate is consistently over 50 ppm without daily 80% water changes due to overstocking.

My main concern would be that one of these might actually completely exhaust the nitrate in the tank and reset the entire cycle, similar to what heavily planted tanks do after a few years?

Thoughts?

 

[danny]

so will over skimming make any diffrence to the denitrator???

 

[danny]

?

 

[L.BelcherII]

over skimming?

 

[danny]

over skimming?

yea i have been told that i am over skimming because my caulerpa keeps dissolving???apparently im starving it of nitrate???my nitrate's are at 0 at the moment and never go above 10?

 

[HugoFishes]

thanks for the info, i'll give this a shot, but how do you manage to connect a pump to air line tubing? I am thinking of running 4 of these with a pump for my 230g tank. let say a pump that has a 3/4" outlet so how can i get it to take 1/4" tubing? getting a reducer maybe?

 

[L.BelcherII]

they make reducers that will go from 3/4 to 1/4. Make sure you get a good valve on it to control the flow. That's the most important part.

 

[ozpkchris]

very interesting read i thnink you guys got my ideas flowing
question on seeding it
do you just place vodka(or what have you) in the bio ball chamber and let it sit.for how long..
or do you just dump in your vodka while the flow is going(doesnt seem right but thats why iasked

 

[mfih1989]

Same exact plans just went a little overboard designing it haha