Has anyone used/using a bacterial denitrator?

[The_Codfather]

I have a chance to buy a old style Aquaripure and was wondering if they are really with it?.. my NO3 run between 20-40 ppm and so far i have pretty much tried everything to bring them down from vodka dosing, adding a fudge with cheato, Rinse all frozen foods with ro/di with cutting back in feedings any pro's and cons would be really appreciated
PO4-0
NO2-0
ammonia-0
PH- 8.2-8.4
ALK-10
CA-460
SG.1.025
Temp 78-80

TIA

Sid

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not familiar with this unit, but many people find the carbon dosed denitrators tedious to control properly, although they can work well.

I cannot see how you would be unable to drop nitrate with organic carbon dosing (like vodka, although I prefer vinegar), unless some other side effect surfaced first. What went wrong?

 

[The_Codfather]

I'm not familiar with this unit, but many people find the carbon dosed denitrators tedious to control properly, although they can work well.

I cannot see how you would be unable to drop nitrate with organic carbon dosing (like vodka, although I prefer vinegar), unless some other side effect surfaced first. What went wrong?

Hi Randy.. I did everything by the book with the carbon dosing as stated in the reefkeeping mag "Vodka Dosing...Distilled!"
by Nathaniel A. Walton (Genetics) and Matt Bjornson (Stony_Corals) but started to get cyano and dinos.. I just overcame the dinos with H202 dosing and the cyano went after i stopped the carbon dosing.. Would a sulfur denitrator be better?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, cyano with vodka is one reason I prefer vinegar, and a combination of vinegar and GFO, or perhaps vodka and GFO is a good way to avoid cyano and still drop nitrate.

 

[The_Codfather]

I would be willing to try vinegar and GFO.. could you point me the right way on how to dose with vinegar or is it the same regiment as vodka?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It's pretty much the same. You need to dose about 8 times as much for the same amount of organic matter as it is much more dilute.

They both lower pH about the same amount overall, but vinegar has a larger initial pH lowering effect, so you might spread out the dosing, if you are using large amounts.

 

[The_Codfather]

I have about 50gl water volume so what should i start off with?

 

[allsps40]

The solution to pollution is dilution...or water changes.

 

[The_Codfather]

The solution to pollution is dilution...or water changes.

Not in my case and many others.. I have done 50% WC's before and the next day or so it's back up.. WC's are not the answer to everything.. Sometimes WC's can fuel a prob like dino's and diatoms

 

[The_Codfather]

I really think i need to bring nitrate reducing bacteria up to par.. something is out of wack

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think starting out with 5 mL of vinegar per day is a fine place to start. I dose abouit 88 ml per day to my system, which is a 120 display and maybe holds 300 gallons total rock and water.

You have a skimmer?

 

[The_Codfather]

I think starting out with 5 mL of vinegar per day is a fine place to start. I dose abouit 88 ml per day to my system, which is a 120 display and maybe holds 300 gallons total rock and water.

You have a skimmer?

Yes i use a skimmer.. a AquaC Remora Pro rated for 40-120gl used on a 40 breeder and 20gl sump.. I run it on a tad wet side but the skimmate is still nice a dark and i only empty the cup once a week with a clean.. So 5ml a day and slowly ramp up( like vodka) till NO4 starts to drop to 0 then cut back for maintenance.. also as you stated before about the PH drop.. I will break up the dose in two parts per day.. I will keep a eye on that and use a PH buffer when or if needed