need EXPERTS advise on Denitrification

[saltysteven]

I was told that a chemical denitrification works very well, even better than a DSB and that water changes wont be really necessary. I wanted to get an expert opinion on this web site:
www.natureef.com
please let me know what your thoughts are- thanks

 

[datablitz]

in my experience, one of the best ways to handle nitrates is water changes.
doing a water change every two-three weeks is very good for the tank, in more ways than just helping remove nitrates. it helps remove other wastes in the tank, and replanish trace elements in the water. most of the chemicals, sponges, voodoo out there that caims to reduce nitrates may work, but not well, and its just a band aid. you are better off just doing water changes, and occasionally gravel vac'ing your sand bed. DSB is not the way to go for nitrate removal, it causes many more problems in the tank, and can even crash the tank in many occasions. not doing water changes is a very silly idea that is never good for the tank.

 

[useskaforevil]

water changes help but unless you plan on keeping a schedle it won't help enough, i'm noticing some success with adding sugar to my tank, and theres a big thread on sulfur denitraters. if nitrates are the only reason you're doing water changes then one of these methods might work, but i doubt thats your only reason.

 

[datablitz]

on most tanks there is something wrong that is causing nitrates it seems, wether it is over stocking, over feeding, foam, socks, poor circulation, lack of water changes, DSB, improper maintience, source water, lack of rock, etc. unless something is wrong the tank shouldnt have nitrates.

 

[saltysteven]

it seems no matter how much reading i do im still so far behind in understanding this hobby
well i have talked to a few others who have said this works and it works very well-
i feel that everything is so experimental i might give it a try

 

[packer]

I have been using a midwestaquatic denitrifier for over two years with great success. It is true you will not need to do water changes for nitrate reduction, but they still need to be done for many other reasons,ie replenishment of other water chemistry depletion and redox. You can change less water on each change as you dont need large amounts to try to reduce the tanks nitrates, and that means less large water change stress for you inhabitants. And having the sulphur DN munching away nitrates means a healthier tank overall due to low nitrate buildup.

 

[saltysteven]

packer- do you think using of of these systems w/ a remote DSB would be overkill?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was told that a chemical denitrification works very well, even better than a DSB and that water changes wont be really necessary.

While reducing nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate is an important thing to do, and denitrators may be useful for many folks, I do not believe that it reduces the usefulness of water changes.

IMO, water changes are needed to add to remove things that are depleted or built up in the water, especially those things that you cannot or do not test for, and not so much for those things which are fairly easily monitored and which can be added or exported in other ways, often more effectively.

For example, water changes can help keep chloride, sulfate, strontium, bromide, fluoride, sodium, heavy metals, organics, and dozens of other chemicals at more appropriate levels with water changes than without.

 

[saltysteven]

wouldnt you say that it could cut on your water changes by using such a unit?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't, since nitrate is not why I change water, but if you are changing an unusually large amount of water for the purpose of reducing nitrate, then yes. I still think 10-30% per month is desirable, maybe more. I usually change 1% daily.

 

[saltysteven]

hey Randy Holmes-Farley-
whats the best way to do those large water changes? you have a system thats easy?

 

[packer]

While I talk up the denitrifier because I love mine and have had great success, I totally agree with Randy. I do 10 percent water changes weekly. And also maybe an almost 20 percent every 6 weeks or so. For heavy nitrate producing tanks (the issue of why should be looked at) you do not need to do massive water changes this way to reduce them as the unit will be doing alot of the work for you, but that should not make you lazy to attend to normal water changes. I do know a few people who use the unit and only do 10 percent or less every few months, certainly not in my agreement. I know how my tank looks in comparison to theres, that is why I use it as a tool to help create the best conditions, and not as a crutch to good maintenance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

whats the best way to do those large water changes? you have a system thats easy?

I do have an automatic water change system that I use for my daily 1% changes. It consists of a dual head Reef Filler pump, drawing from an 88 gallon reservoir of new salt water (two 44 gallon Brute cans connected with a bulkhead). It is driven by a timer that runs it automatically about an hour a day, swapping out 1% of the tank volume and sending it down a drain.

 

[saltysteven]

that system sounds pretty cool. do you have any pics of what you explained?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No pictures, but I can answer any questions you have about it.

 

[saltysteven]

I see that pump- i think i have one laying around in the basement. im not sure how it really works though. would you need two pumps?
one to put new water in and one to take it out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, 2 pumps. You need to very carefully balance the input and output in a water change. I use a single dual head Reef Filler pump that is slow and has good control. But two separate Reef Filler pumps could work just as well. A single one won't do both the job of adding and removing water.