need help with DYI denitrator

[johnvu713]

A guy at my LFS said this would work. Basically what he said to do is put some airline tubing spool with valve into an oceanic bucket, cover the lid, drill a small hole at the bottom so water can drip into the sump. Will this work in lowering my nitrate? Couldnt be that simple could it?

BTW im not using any pump, just gonna let good, old gravity do its magic.

 

[XeniaMania]

Actually there's more to it. What he's trying to tell you to do is a denitrating coil. You'll need media like bioballs as well so there's surface for bacteria to grow. How it's suppose to work is when water goes in the tube, the aerobic bacteria uses up the oxygen in the water, as the travels more towards the end of the tube, it becomes practically void of oxygen. The water in the bucket that's void of oxygen will promote the growth of a bacteria that consumes Nitrates and produces Nitrogen instead. This process takes about 5 weeks to cycle. Google a search for 'DIY Denitrating coil". I have another variation. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785453 This works very well for me, without the delay.