Denitrifier ?

[Scratch-D]

Anyone use a Denitrator ?

Comments? Good /bad /ugly?


Can the same be achieved with a Deep Sand Bed ?



Natureef link



Let the poll begin!
:hammer:

 

[tperk9784]

I have known people who have built and used coil denitrators on freshwater tanks with great success.

I do not know anyone who uses one on a saltwater tank. The only reasons I can think of really using one on a saltwater tank is if you have a fish only, a fish only with live rock (with very little rock), or have a heavily overstocked tank.


Tim

 

[jeffbrig]

IMO, the denitrator is probably unnecessary. If you manage your nutrients through proper stocking, skimming, and water changes, you shouldn't have nitrate accumulation. My tank has been up for about 2 years, and tests at .2ppm nitrate, barely detectable on a salifert low range test.

 

[ReefWreak]

Yea, I get no nitrates anymore in my tank, just from the bio process, good skimming, and this is all while my family overfeeds the tank, with a medium/large bioload on the tank as well, with no refugium

However, I know SteveM runs a denitrator on his softy tank and loves it, last I heard. Maybe he'll see this and chime in.

As far as DSBs, they're great, but unless you change like 1/2 of it every few years, and/or have a great cleaning crew that clean the sand a lot, then you're going to cause a nutrient sink, where the sand bed fills with nutrients, and then slowly over the rest of the life of that sand bed it will seep nutrients (nitrate, PO4, ammonia, etc) back into the water, and you'll never get rid of nitrates.

Remote Deep Sandbeds in buckets are great, because they're cheap, easily replacable every few years, and act as calcium/alk buffers in tanks. Just fill a 5g or more bucket with sand, put 2 bulkheads on it, run some fast water over the top, cover the bucket, and in a few weeks, nitrates will disappear. Then just replace the sand every year or so.

I've heard great things about the Midwest Denitrators, and looked into getting one for myself when I was too impatient about my new tank reducing it's own nitrates, but now that my nitrates are gone, I kinda chuckle at the idea that I was about to buy one... Oh well.

Hopefully with age your tank will get rid of it's nitrates... Or something else will happen to get rid of them. I don't even know how or why I don't see them anymore, but I don't, and that's what counts.

Good luck

 

[stevem650]

My nitrates were around 80ppm and now are almost non detectable. I am using the midwest denitrator and love it. I have been using it for 8 months without any maintenance. It's a sulfur base unit which is different than the natureef unit and alot cheaper.

http://www.midwestaquatic.com

 

[szhttm]

I use a NatuReef Denitrator and love it!!!! I got mine from Coral Sea Pets.

Adolf, who own and runs NatuReef is about a mile East of the store. Adolf use to own and operate Coral Sea Pets and then sold it to Robbie and Eva.

I can honestly say that the denitrator made a huge difference in my 92-gallon reef. It removed a nitrates in my tank and allowed me to add even more bioload while still maintaining almost 0 nitrates.

I would recommend that you talk to Robbie at Coral Sea Pets about. He knows it inside and out and uses it in the store. He would be able to explain the system and answer all of your questions.

My tank was doing wonderful up until we were hit with the hurricanes and storms a couple years ago.

Good Luck And Have Fun!!!;
:thumbsup:

 

[gasman059]

Well guys here's my alter ego again HAHAHAHA
Denitrator=BS
My 200 has close to 32 fish.(heavily fed) and yes my nitrtates are 0.
Proper stocking, skimming, and water changes,period
IMO there's so much BS in the hobby and everybody is trying to make a buck. Next time before u set up your tank get a couple of hundred dollars more in LR and no nitrates.