diy denitrifier/denitratot

[sanababit]

hello guys, im cycling a DIY denitrifier, question, did u guys get ammonia, nitrite coming out off the denitrifier, how long did it taqke for yours to start working, if i need to stop pump feeding denitrifier and air bubbles form in tubing will it kill anaerobic bacteria or just don interrupt flow going into it??? how did u guys knew when it was starting to cycle besides getting low trates, thanks


sana:rollface:
:welcome:

 

[sanababit]

anyone

 

[sanababit]

ideas??

 

[ndas2976]

What kind of denitrifer did you build?

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Some general guidelines that fit most designs. The principle behind all denitrators is to have all oxygen depleted from the water so that anaerobic bacteria can reduce nitrate. Many denitrator designs incorporate an added food source, such as carbon or sulfur, to aid this process. The idea is to regulate the flow through the denitrator so that it is going slowly enough that the nitrate is fully reduced to N2 gas but not so slowly as to produce hydrogen sulfide, which is poisonous (in large enough quantities) to your aquarium inhabitants. One way to regulate flow is to start rather slow (a few drips per second). Periodically smell the outlet to determine if it is producing hydrogen sulfide (will have that distinctive rotten egg smell). If you do smell it, increase the flow-rate gradually until it disappears. Then, the best way to check the efficacy of the denitrator is to test the aquarium water for nitrates alongside the water coming out of the denitrator (have it drip into the test tube). As a side note, I don't know if you can effectively use the smelling method with a sulfur denitrator (the effluent may already smell of rotten eggs from sulfate).

You may get nitrite coming out of the denitrator. This is an indication that you are running the water through it too quickly. You shouldn't get ammonia, however.

 

[tankslave]

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