Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

Jml, i think dymico reactor is the product you are talking about. ORP probe definately is a step further to enhance the effectiveness of this reactor. As for sulfur smell, yes it will go into that problem if the flow is too low for a much bigger reactor or disruption of flow for a period of time. You can increase the flow to avoid such issue. Best way to tune the reactor is leaving the effluent no3 at traceable amount. I'm currently on 1 - 3ppm no3, all corals are happy at this level.
 
Yeah it's down to about 5 on a API test kit, may be lower but I'm reading the test wrong. I'm happy here, everybody in the tank is happy here, so I'm not gonna my to buy another test kit. Yes, it's the Dymico reactor I was looking at. Same concept, less throughput. I just like playing with the gear :)
 
Nice. I'm keeping 1 - 3ppm no3 as per nyos kit. Just changed my lighting. So far so good. Good growth and nice color. Close to 35 species of acros in my tank now
 
Jml and don, IMO the only way , to know that this reactor is working is ......Measuring no3 at reactor outlet. If the value is smaller than DT, it is working, if not-my case- is not, if the value is bigger than DT, it became no3 factory. Don if now that you are not reading different no3 values, how are you sure it is still working for you?

I don't intend to use commercial bacteria, just wondering if you continues suppy the reactor with them! If you do , then the success is because of this bacteria and not the reactor! Supplying this bacteria in DT can lower no3 at their own, if done daily as Don did, and no rector is needed!
 
If you measure ORP, you can at least guarantee the environment your providing is appropriate to grow the denitrifying bacteria. If your flow is too high, or there is too much O2, you'll go forever without dropping NO3. I ordered the probe and PVC fittings today, we'll see how it goes :)
 
Greg, I feed my fishes 3 times a day. Once a day with frozen cubes. I feed quite heavy as I have 3 anthias. My fox face is a pig, and poop a lot. Twice a week I feed gonio powder, broadcast feeding for clam, nps cauliflower and two goniopora. I did overdose nitrate three weeks ago (20ppm) and it was brought down to 3ppm in 5 days. IMO, as long as the vodka dosing continues and nitrate is traceable, the bacteria should flourish in the reactor. I still dose bacteria directly into the display just in case. If the reactor is no longer functioning, my no3 must be high by now.
 
Jml, with ORP it will be much easier to control. I don't have reef controller, so I cant comment much on it. As Greg said, as long as the no3 reading at the outlet is zero or near zero, I am happy with it. When no3 is lower than 5, continuous vodka dosing and regular fish feeding will ensure the process is in a loop.
 
Don what do you think is the cause , my denitrator hasn't yet started working? Flow is very low, ~7-8lt/h, NOPOX 7ml/day, media are clean, so what? In theory it was a very good idea that it should denitrify for sure, but in practice I haven't see any result yet! I will give it some more time, but I am not very optimist, that it will work for me!
 
Greg, how porous the media that you are using?. Any picture?. How does your chambers looks like?. Any possibility that your chambers leaks, allowing air to enter thus preventing denitrification from happening?. I'm afraid your system does not have denitfrying bacteria without any commercial bacteria dosing. These are possible reasons it didn't work in the first place.

P/s - you might have pictures of your build somewhere ��
 
That's a great looking tank you have there and your destroyer denitrification reactor makes perfect sense. It looks like a very effective form of carbon dosing with some distinct advantages.

At one point you mentioned dosing nitrate to engance bacterial colonization, which I turn drives PO4 levels down further, per the concept of the Redfield ratio. Are you still practicing that regimin? Have you considered dosing iron to reduce PO4? That is another effective means to reduce/control PO4 levels.
 
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Hi RK64.

Sodium nitrate is still in use but in a very diluted form as I dose no3 together with kh solution using IV drip. I'm trying to maintain 1-3ppm of no3, and the only way of maintaining such level is constant dosing. I think frozen cubes contains certain amount of po4 to balance out the no3 in the system for bacteria consumption. I'm not going to use iron for po4 reduction as I tried gfo before and doesn't like the extra works involved. The denitrator does removes po4 as well, so I don't rit is necessary at this moment.
 
 
I hear ya on the iron. On that sodium nitrate, I'm sure you have noticed that the small amount of you are adding is key to keeping PO4 levels heathy. Again, the redfield principal at work and you are leveraging it well. Ideas like yours help the hobby to advance forward.
 
I really hope this design will help a lot of reefers whom doesn't have the luxury (having thicker wallet) or those who wants simplicity in maintaining a reef tank. It helps me alot since i started and i can spend more time enjoying my tank. After 22k views, I wonder how many had built one for themselves.
 
I wonder what kinds of toxins the bacteria generate in the tank? If we hook up the output of the reactor to the input of a GAC reactor, does that buy us anything?
 
It should be hydrogen sulfide hence the rotten egg smell. Mine will have that smell if there is no flow for a period of time. I believe with adequate flow it shouldn't produced any, unless the amount of bacteria in there are so huge. As such it might be possible due to rapid depletion of nutrients, forcing those further down to start consuming sulfate instead of nitrate.
 
Today I am very glad ,because theory meet practical results and I can confirm that the brilliant idea of Don, is also working for me , in a skimmerless system , without bacteria dosing, and currently dosing diy nopox of 7ml/day. After 3.5 months, for first time I , took different measurements of no3, in DT and reactor outlet!

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I am glad that yours starts to work Greg. It just a matter of time for it to mature and you will be surprise the beauty of bacteria driven denitrator. Good job!
 
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