Nitrate Reactor ?

[reefrubble]

Anyone using the sulphur balls,to feed the denitrifying bacteria? Is this a good approach to removing nitrates?

 

[reefrubble]

Anybody

 

[Ti]

sulphur balls?

 

[Bill Wann]

Been using them for a few years , here my diy reactor on my 1500

 

[reefrubble]

If you been using them for a few years ,they must doing something good. Do you have it tied in to your calcium reactor ? I would think the discharge would be acidic ,and lower the PH in your calcium reactor . This would save on CO 2,is this correct? Ted

 

[reefrubble]

Also thanks for the pics Bill. BTW how large is that reactor? Ted

 

[wrassie86]

I dont use the sulfer unit,but i do use the aquamedic nitrate reductor carbon based unit with self feeding balls.I replace them once a year for $30 and feed for a week, other than that never really touch the thing.works very well.

 

[reefrubble]

Thanks Rob, Do you have any pics of your set up? Ted

 

[wrassie86]

I'll try to get a pic up tommorow.But the unit i use is the aquamedic nitrate reductor 1000 been going for about 2-3 yrs nows.
I think fosters have them on sale now for $200.little easyer on the wallet than the sulfer units.they say you should use a controller with them.but i never have, once the unit was pressureized and stable and several nitrate tests were performed to get it where i wanted.thats been it.

 

[reefrubble]

I can DIY the reaction chamber. Does the sulphur balls cost more then the carbon balls?

 

[wrassie86]

If you go into my gallery and look at my sump pic, you can see it sitting behind the white hanging light.Runs in or out of sump.

 

[wrassie86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7512434#post7512434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble
I can DIY the reaction chamber. Does the sulphur balls cost more then the carbon balls?

Not sure the carbon balls are only bio ball like. and the self feeding balls are a kind of bio ball that disolves and feeds bacteria.

 

[Ti]

You can use Seachems *denitrate*
I have 1L brand new if you decide to go seachem.

 

[Bugger]

I my opion and the opion of many others, Nitrate reduceres are a waste of money. Spend your money of a good quality salts.

 

[reefrubble]

I wanted input from people using this type of reactor. I didn't ask if nitrate reducers were a waste of money,or not.

 

[Bill Wann]

Il tell you from experiance that sulphur reactors are worth every penney .

Bill

 

[reefrubble]

Bill, I know sulphur is acidic. Do you run the discharge from your sulphur reactor into your calcium reactor,to help lower the PH,and use less CO2 ? Also how big is your sulphur reactor ? Thanks, Ted

 

[kahunakatz]

I am using a Sulfur Nitrate Reactor from Midwest Aquatics and I could not be happier. Nitrates are low and the corals are super happy. It keeps Nitrates under 1ppm even with daily feedings.

Best Wishes,
Barry Katz

 

[chtan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7512458#post7512458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrassie86
Not sure the carbon balls are only bio ball like. and the self feeding balls are a kind of bio ball that disolves and feeds bacteria.

Actually, the carbon balls are called deniballs as in denitrifying balls and they are made of a special biological plastic material that the anaerobic material can metabolize ...

it does not need another reactor to create hardness to neutralize the acidic effluent.

... well, it is possible to DIY a unit for the deniball denitrator ... but why bother as the aqua medic ones come with a dosing pump and a very slow circulation pump build into the set so that it does not foul easily.

and as already mentioned by wrassie86 there is no need to use a ORP controller unlike the sulphur reactor there is need to be more vigilant.

 

[wrassie86]

well said.alot better than i did .
One thing i've never understood is why the sulpher reactors were all the rage when they first came out i think early last year, with a big price tag.And units like the Aquamedic have been around for years and work just as well if not better.maybe it was daily feeding that the old units required or if you dont use Deniballs.I dont know.But what i do know is a few years ago when i first went to a BB tank i had really bad nitrate problems.40-60.it took about about 2 weeks for the reactor to cycle.then bye bye nitrates.took just around a month to be at 0.

And thanks again for the past help Chtan