Purigen Filter

[jaws7777]

So my never ending quest continues. I converted one of the denitrate towers to this contraption. 4inch pvc connected to a dct12000. Tower holds 2L of purigen.

The filter was set up on monday sept 18th. The pump running at about 1100 gph.

Tested a few days later and got 0 nitrates. I was worried that the bb would be starved so shut the pump off for a day or two then lowered it to 650gph and found a happy medium.
Monday sept 25 nitrates were less than 5.

Tested again today and nitrates were between 10 and 20ppm.

I'll continue to update on the filters progress.

This tank usually requires two wc per week and hits 40ppm at wc time. The goal isnt to do away with wc's just get down to 1 fin level wc each week.

 

[ragin_cajun]

As you know, I’m in the “drip”camp on this, but there’s definitely something to reactors like this. I think we had a member way back when I first signed up at MFK who experimented with phosban reactors.

If Purigen reactor can remove nitrates and organic compounds, I’m interested as long as it’s easier to change than water????

 

[jaws7777]

As you know, I’m in the “drip”camp on this, but there’s definitely something to reactors like this. I think we had a member way back when I first signed up at MFK who experimented with phosban reactors.

If Purigen reactor can remove nitrates and organic compounds, I’m interested as long as it’s easier to change than water????

I would go drip all day. But this should ease things a bit until i get to setting up a drip.

I tried a diy purigen reactor. For me it didnt work. Gph required to get it to tumble was too low to impact nitrates

 

[Drstrangelove]

For those pushing the boundaries in large tanks, this is another means to upgrade water quality. Even with auto drip, carbon blocks, filters and plants, I think there's an important role for adsorbent resins.

Now, for those handful of us who are not mechanically inclined, I ask that you explain how you are moving water through the chamber. My plans were always to do something passive (a bag of purigen in the sump or water passing through a channel filled with purigen), but always inside a sump. Obviously, I have no experience with denitrate towers or it might be easier for me to understand.

 

[Hendre]

Don't give up on denitrate coils just yet

 

[jaws7777]

For those pushing the boundaries in large tanks, this is another means to upgrade water quality. Even with auto drip, carbon blocks, filters and plants, I think there's an important role for adsorbent resins.

Now, for those handful of us who are not mechanically inclined, I ask that you explain how you are moving water through the chamber. My plans were always to do something passive (a bag of purigen in the sump or water passing through a channel filled with purigen), but always inside a sump. Obviously, I have no experience with denitrate towers or it might be easier for me to understand.

Im in the not mechanically inclined group as well

Sorry for not explaining better what i meant by tower was the lenght of 4 inch pvc pipe i used with my last contraption to hold the seachem denitrate media. After our discussion on that anerobic bb thread i moved on. It reduced nitrates for a short period of time but ultimately failed. I didnt want to devote the time and energy carbon dosing.

My sump doesnt have any baffels so it was easy for me to lay the the pipe across the front inside the sump.

I dont like how seachem sizes the product though 100 ml bag per 100 gal is soo vague...how many fish, What size and amount/size of feeding all play a role. I just over did it with 2L. Also keeping 2L spare to use while im recharging.

The pump is connected to the tower with elbows running to a 3/4 uniseal nothing glued just pressed fitted so i could take it apart when recharging the purigen. Iif had a spare union on hand i would have glued it. Both ends of the pipe were capped (glued) one end has a clean out with tons of holes drilled in. I'll unscrew this end to remove the purigen. I over did the holes because i wanted a high flow and didnt want to create too much pressure/velocity with the water exiting the filter.

I tried placing large bags of purigen suspended in each filter sock when i 1st set the tank up and saw no reduction of nitrates. I think the product needs direct flow through it and at a decent gph. In the past i always used it in caniaters.

How wide are your baffles ? Could you place the purigen between them but cram enough in so theres little bypass ? Or maybe use a bunch of tee's and connect multiple smaller lengths of pvc pipe to a spare pump ?

Don't give up on denitrate coils just yet

Im not too confident in the coil towers. The few vids i saw on succesful ones could be debunked. One guy was getting 0 nitrate from the return of his filter but at such a low flow rate (drips per second) he was still getting nitrares in his tank. With my large overstocked tank im not sure the water volume would cycle fast enough to account for new nitrate being produced by the fish.

Could be wrong tho would love to see someone tackle this method....im diy'd out lol

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I'm interested to see how long the purigen works before needing recharged.

 

[jaws7777]

I'm interested to see how long the purigen works before needing recharged.

Will update. One thing i can say from my prior experience is the advertised 6 months is not realistic especially with MFK type fish

 

[ragin_cajun]

Will update. One thing i can say from my prior experience is the advertised 6 months is not realistic especially with MFK type fish

My experience as well. Purigen in my tank turned completely brown and needed recharging after a few weeks. 6 months? No way.

 

[Hendre]

Im not too confident in the coil towers. The few vids i saw on succesful ones could be debunked. One guy was getting 0 nitrate from the return of his filter but at such a low flow rate (drips per second) he was still getting nitrares in his tank. With my large overstocked tank im not sure the water volume would cycle fast enough to account for new nitrate being produced by the fish.

Could be wrong tho would love to see someone tackle this method....im diy'd out lol

Not quite a coil.... More like a canister or 3