DIY Denitrators

zt444a

zt444a

New member
Anyone ever do one? I have seen some fairly easy looking plans for the coil type. I even have some info from an RC member on the sulphur type using phosban reactors and he says it works fine.

Anyone ever do this?
 
BK made a sulfur denitrifier and loves it. I had one from Midwest Aquatics that I loved.

However, after buying the media for it, BK had quite a bit of money in it.
 
Yeah the pre-populated stuff is what I as told works best (by Mavgi on RC here), he said don't use the cheap stuff. However he also said it worked just fine!
 
There are also those that swear by using deep sand beds or remote DSBs. The concept seems to be sound but I have not ever seen objective evidence that they work. Just fill a 5 gallon bucket with clean sand, make a couple holes in the bucket for in abd out then put a lid on it and allow a slow flow through the bucket then return it to the sump. There are several long threads on this but I have not seen anyone cycle one out then put it on a tank with high nitrates and measure the changes.

FOr tanks under 120 gallons this seems practical but for anything larger you would need several.

Worth checking into just because it can't hurt.

Faz
 
Sulfur denitrators work when done correctly.

When Justin first bougt his I told him that he was crazy for putting sulfur into his tank but after doing propper research I decided to build one and test it.

THEY WORK: 3-1-08 my tanks Nitrates were at 35, Ca 360
3-8-08 15 tank and 0 from the reactor, Ca 400
3-15-08 0 tank and 0 from the reactor, Ca 440

I have yet to do a water change!!!

My Ca was jumping back and forth before the reactor now with the Ca media in the 2nd chamber the Ca is steady at 450.

BK
 
I am a rebel but the sugar dosing has worked well for me. I can't even keep chaeto alive anymore. :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12482557#post12482557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sirreal63
I am a rebel but the sugar dosing has worked well for me. I can't even keep chaeto alive anymore. :D
Click to expand...

How does that work Jack?
 
It can happen if you dump way too much sugar in.

Howie...do a search on sugar or vodka dosing, tons of info. there.
 
a818682e8773.jpg


LEFT: WATER BEFORE IT ENTERS THE REACTOR
RIGHT: WATER AFTER THE REACTOR
 
Now that is some objective evidence. If the DSBs were that effective you would see results like that.

BK, do you have pictures of your denitrifier?

Faz
 
If kept on for a log time without being maintained it can raise raise sulfur levels.

In a 100 gallon tank this would take about one year.

All you have to do when maintaining your denitrator is to take out about 1/3rd of the sulfur when you are replacing your Ca media and wash it out with RODI. That's about every other month in my tank...

You can also put the thing on a time where it is only on diring the day and that way you have to do nothing but replace the Ca media and clean the sulfur when it looks nasty...

BK
 
So I should only look into using one of these baddies once I get a CA reactor as well.

Your all running up the tab on must buy features.

Sulfur sounds dangerous, but I do love the smell of fireworks and road flares.
 
The low PH created by the sulfur in the 1st chamber is used to disolve the Ca media in the 2nd chamber. No need for a seperate Ca reactor or CO2 tank unless you have a huge Ca demand.

Before someone asks: No the low ph does not lower the ph in the tank because the Ca being disolved raises it back up...


Lucas. I'll just come over right after work in about one hour...

BK
 
Like bk said, unless you have all stonies or a large ca demand, it's not needed. I am a bit curious about the maintenance on this. I would say it's less than that.

The guy rick from www.midwestaquatic.com is awesome to deal with and has a forum also with tons of info
 
Saves money on CO2 I suppose, No regulator?

I dont have a Ca reactor so I may be talking out of my rear.

No regulator, no drip, any bubbes to count?

This thing looks like a nice part to have on your system.

And it keeps the algae down as well???
 
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