![]() |
ULNS - Denitrators
What's the best option for keeping Nitrates near 0?
I have been cruising the web for ways to limit nitrates in my setup. I like the idea of ULNS, but don't like the idea of Zeovit for two reasons (I could be very wrong, so please correct me): by targeting the ammonia/ammonium, the tank is effectively not cycled, meaning there is no easy way off the system without a cycle/crash; dosing unknowns without testing and watching for changes to corals is not measurable enough to give me any sense of comfort. As I understand it, this leaves few options if I want to keep nitrates near 0.2ppm: huge daily water changes; deep sand bed; bio pellets, carbon/coil denitrator, or a sulfur denitrator. I have tried to find out why sulfur denitrators went out of style, or never caught on in the first place. If anyone can help me figure this out, I would appreciate it. I can't find too many down sides to them, aside from having to monitor pH, dose Alk, and keeping an eye on ORP values on the aquarium and effluent as a method of monitoring the viability of the bacteria within. I can anticipate similar potential issues with the bio pellets (unstable and aerobic makes potential crashes more likely) and the carbon/coil denitrators (require specific dosing of a carbon source), but still don't understand why they haven't caught on as well? If anyone can shed some light on this, I would greatly appreciate it. |
I don't know much of denitrators however, I am a firm believer in large wc and vacuuming the sand bed. You may want to target .1 or .2 nitrate level instead of 0 and I also recommend keeping your phosphate levels in check as well.
|
Thanks for the post... I think there are a lot of people in the same boat, not knowing about denitrators. I suspect that's for a good reason that I just can't figure out yet. I agree with the water changes and vacuuming.
FYI: Targeting 0.1-0.2ppm, currently running GFO to keep phosphates <0.03ppm, and ideally lower. I also plan on doing a 15% WC weekly, which I hope to turn into a 15% continuous water change... but that's for a different thread. Also, I am just wrapping up the cycle, so my bio-load is nil. I just was researching ZEOvit and because they recommend starting it on a new system, and I like some aspects but not all, so I hoped to compromise with a denitrator. I can't find too many downsides on the web, but they are rather unpopular, so that must be for a reason. |
The best method for keeping nitrates near 0 is a well set up tank with sufficient good quality live rock to support the bio-load. This is also the most bulletproof. Keep it simple!
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk |
Quote:
|
How does the size of my filtration system control Nitrates? Aren't nitrates the end of the nitrogen cycle? I understand how LR can control nitrites, by converting them to nitrates, but from there I am lost.
|
Nitrates are consumed by the anaerobic bacteria in the low oxygen area inside the rock.
|
Really? That's a great suggestion. It must operate similar to a deep sand bed. I bet you need a ton of live rock and very little flow to make that happen. It sounds like its not something for a display... I think I have seen that setup at Wai's in Calgary. He has a SH Ton of LR in a ~300Gallon with very little flow.
Has anyone had success maintaining 0.1ppm Nitrates with 10-15% water changes weekly with a setup like this? I doubt I have enough space to setup another aquarium for LR for my 700gallon total volume system. Unless this doesn't take as much real estate as I am thinking. Thanks again for the info. |
Quote:
Maybe set up a poll to see which of the ones you listed seem to be the most trendy these days. |
Quote:
Both coil and sulphur denitrators went out of style because they were prone to clogging or when vunerable to power failures, gave you an H2S problem. Maintaining a slow constant flow was critical with them. Follow the suggestions everyone else here has listed and you should be fine. |
All times are GMT. The time now is 03:06 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.