Denitrification...

I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...

Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...

FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...

Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.

Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.

But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:
I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...

Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...

FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...

Other than testing pH of the water, DO levels, and keeping a nose out
for H2S... Any tips for tuning?

I'm trying to avoid the deep sand bed just because of the limited size
of the tank already.

Maybe it's a stretch but, do you think using live rock or seeded
crushed coral/liverock fragments in a container with low water
throughput but high internal circulation would increase the anaerobic
activity without causing too many problems from decaying organics and
aerobic bacteria? Or maybe using a coil of hose before a fluidized
sand bed with an aeration chamber before going back into the tank? I'm
basically trying to figure out how to minimize H2S production to see if
it is possible to use denitrification on micro/nano reefs.


On Oct 27, 11:41 am, Wayne Sallee wrote:
Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.

Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.

But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:



I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...

Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...

FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

To minimize hydrogen sulfide, you can run it through a
aerobic bacteria bed. You can also speed up the flow rate
through the denitrifier to reduce hydrogen sulfide. You
can also aerate the water exiting the denitrifier, as h2s
degases quickly.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets




Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 1:45 PM:
Other than testing pH of the water, DO levels, and keeping a nose out
for H2S... Any tips for tuning?

I'm trying to avoid the deep sand bed just because of the limited size
of the tank already.

Maybe it's a stretch but, do you think using live rock or seeded
crushed coral/liverock fragments in a container with low water
throughput but high internal circulation would increase the anaerobic
activity without causing too many problems from decaying organics and
aerobic bacteria? Or maybe using a coil of hose before a fluidized
sand bed with an aeration chamber before going back into the tank? I'm
basically trying to figure out how to minimize H2S production to see if
it is possible to use denitrification on micro/nano reefs.


On Oct 27, 11:41 am, Wayne Sallee wrote:
Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.

Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.

But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:



I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...
Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...
FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the quick relpies Wayne... BTW does your store have a
website?

On Oct 27, 2:57 pm, Wayne Sallee wrote:
To minimize hydrogen sulfide, you can run it through a
aerobic bacteria bed. You can also speed up the flow rate
through the denitrifier to reduce hydrogen sulfide. You
can also aerate the water exiting the denitrifier, as h2s
degases quickly.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 1:45 PM:



Other than testing pH of the water, DO levels, and keeping a nose out
for H2S... Any tips for tuning?

I'm trying to avoid the deep sand bed just because of the limited size
of the tank already.

Maybe it's a stretch but, do you think using live rock or seeded
crushed coral/liverock fragments in a container with low water
throughput but high internal circulation would increase the anaerobic
activity without causing too many problems from decaying organics and
aerobic bacteria? Or maybe using a coil of hose before a fluidized
sand bed with an aeration chamber before going back into the tank? I'm
basically trying to figure out how to minimize H2S production to see if
it is possible to use denitrification on micro/nano reefs.

On Oct 27, 11:41 am, Wayne Sallee wrote:
Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.

Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.

But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:

I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...
Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...
FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the quick relpies Wayne... BTW does your store have a
website?

On Oct 27, 2:57 pm, Wayne Sallee wrote:
To minimize hydrogen sulfide, you can run it through a
aerobic bacteria bed. You can also speed up the flow rate
through the denitrifier to reduce hydrogen sulfide. You
can also aerate the water exiting the denitrifier, as h2s
degases quickly.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 1:45 PM:



Other than testing pH of the water, DO levels, and keeping a nose out
for H2S... Any tips for tuning?

I'm trying to avoid the deep sand bed just because of the limited size
of the tank already.

Maybe it's a stretch but, do you think using live rock or seeded
crushed coral/liverock fragments in a container with low water
throughput but high internal circulation would increase the anaerobic
activity without causing too many problems from decaying organics and
aerobic bacteria? Or maybe using a coil of hose before a fluidized
sand bed with an aeration chamber before going back into the tank? I'm
basically trying to figure out how to minimize H2S production to see if
it is possible to use denitrification on micro/nano reefs.

On Oct 27, 11:41 am, Wayne Sallee wrote:
Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.

Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.

But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:

I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...
Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...
FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Umm yep :-)

It's hidden in every post, if you can find it :-)

In fact I have two web sites, one personal, and one business.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 5:35 PM:
Thanks for the quick relpies Wayne... BTW does your store have a
website?

On Oct 27, 2:57 pm, Wayne Sallee wrote:
To minimize hydrogen sulfide, you can run it through a
aerobic bacteria bed. You can also speed up the flow rate
through the denitrifier to reduce hydrogen sulfide. You
can also aerate the water exiting the denitrifier, as h2s
degases quickly.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 1:45 PM:



Other than testing pH of the water, DO levels, and keeping a nose out
for H2S... Any tips for tuning?
I'm trying to avoid the deep sand bed just because of the limited size
of the tank already.
Maybe it's a stretch but, do you think using live rock or seeded
crushed coral/liverock fragments in a container with low water
throughput but high internal circulation would increase the anaerobic
activity without causing too many problems from decaying organics and
aerobic bacteria? Or maybe using a coil of hose before a fluidized
sand bed with an aeration chamber before going back into the tank? I'm
basically trying to figure out how to minimize H2S production to see if
it is possible to use denitrification on micro/nano reefs.
On Oct 27, 11:41 am, Wayne Sallee wrote:
Well, trying to keep a denitrifyer properly tuned, is not
exactly making things easier.
Live rock and a deep live sand bed in the tank will
denitrify the water.
But as for making a denitrifyer all you need is an area
for bacteria to grow in a container (usually tubing) where
the water flow is turned down low enough that the oxygen
is used up.
Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

Russ wrote on 10/27/2006 8:08 AM:
I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...
Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...
FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Russ wrote:
I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...

Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...


"DSB in a bucket" a la Anthony Calfo worked for us in our 29g. Put 10"
to 14" of fresh, clean sand in a 5 gallon bucket -- any type of sand
should work, even silica-based or pool filter sand, although oolitic
sugar-fine aragonite seems to work the fastest. Drill a bulkhead about
an inch or two higher than the top of the substrate for the water to
flow out from back into your tank/sump. Make sure there's just enough
flow over the sand to keep solids in suspension (pre-filter water
through poly wool or whatever first to minimize detritus build-up) and
advection will take care of the rest.

Anthony has discussed this method in-depth on a few of the popular
reef boards (reefcentral.com, marinedepot, etc...) and also mentions it
in the 2.5 hour lecture video recently posted to the reefvideos.com
podcast.

Ours was higher than the tank, fed it with hose on a ~200gph powerhead
and just let it gravity feed back into the tank. Nitrate went from
20ppm to undetectable in about 6 weeks.
Cheap, effective, and easy to set up (or take down if you have
problems).

FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...

I heard of a 55-gallon tank being used instead of a bucket (and a LOT
more sand obviously), it dropped the nitrates to undetectable in a
2000g display tank at some fish store.

Russ,

The EASIEST way to rid your tank of excess nitrates is with a refugium
and some macro algae. I highly suggest chaeto. Since I added chaeto
to my sump my nitrates have consistently been at 0 for over 6 months.

Ben
Russ wrote:
I'm sure that this subject pops up in waves, but as I'm new to online
forums/groups/blogs/whateveryouwanttocallit...

Has anyone had luck with external denitrification filters that don't
need to be fed? If so... Can we talk about the design?... Thanks...

FYI I'm looking to start a custom 32 gallon reef in a friends house
and was just playing with a few ideas on ways to make her life easier...