Richard

Thanks for the help. I was thinking of using clear tubing in a clear acrylic
pipe (if I could find one, if not I was going to use PVC pipe). Why do you
suggest that I do not use clear tubing?

I was also thinking of using siphon from the main tank to into the coil
denitrator instead of a pump. Do you think this will be too much or too
little flow? I also have a Mini*Jet pump that pumps 13-100 gph is currently
sitting in a box. Will that be too much of a water flow?


"richard reynolds" wrote in message
.. .
Kveill wrote in message
...
I have been looking at different DIY plan for Coil Denitrators and I was
wondering if anyone has had any luck building one of these things. I am
really curious what kind of pump and flow rate did you use. Can anyone
make
any recomendations or give me specific directions on how to build one?
Any
information will be apprecitated.

ive built a few, ive made a few. ive never really had a seperate pump,
ive always used a
return/canister/gravity into sump/T off a powerhead the volume is low,
the pressure is
even lower no real need for a pump

From what I have heard you should get a some PVC pipe 3-4" diameter and
run
75-100ft of 1/4in clear tubing around and fill the middle of the tube
with
bio-balls. Then you should let the output drip at 1 drop/sec until the
unit
has cycled then you can open it up to flow at full speed once the unit
has
cycled. I have heard of cycle time between 6-8 weeks. Does this sound
about
right? Thanks

there are a zillion things you can do with the coil, how you wrap it,
where you put it,
how you put it, none of it really matters except keep it dark and un
kinked, i suggest NOT
using clear tubing, unless you place all of the clear tubing inside
something that is
dark. 6 weeks is about the time frame for cycling, ill agree with 8 but
it seems longer
than ive ever had to wait. while it cycles it will produce some nitrite,
not enough to
worry you, but use it for a test to see how far along in its cycle you
are, nitrite == not
done, nitrate it just depends on how much is going into the unit, it
should consume more
than 1/2 the nitrate level of what goes in. but it doesnt do so good at
getting 0 on low
nitrate range kits
expect the output to have low ph, its not perminent and only requires gas
exchange to
bring the ph back up to what the tank level is. another thing full speed
shouldnt be
forceful if it is it will disrupt the bacteria, it normally lives in low
water movement
areas.


--
richard reynolds