Sulfur DeNITRIFIER

[beergeek]

So after reading a little about the Midwest Aquatic Sulfur DeNITRIFIER I picked one up. All i can say is WOW! I have had this in for just over 2 weeks now and my Red Hair alage is almost gone. I need to take and test the water but things are looking great. I would have to say this is probablty one of the best purchases I have made for my system.

[Ereefic]

I'm glad you posted this and i'm glad that it is working out for you. I plan on getting one also rather soon.

[therazorsedge]

WOW.. Midwest Aquatics has great customer service. I emailed them with a question and within 5 minutes I had a response. Either their business is very slow or they have great CS.

[Ramble]

I've never been to a commercial web site that lets you download the product manual. What a great idea! It shows they want you to make educated decisions!

As far as nitrogen reactors, I've heard bad things about them in the past. I picked one up at a rummage sale, and people whom I respect told me not to use it, it causes tank crashes of Old Testament proportions. Is this new de-nitrifier different? (hope so)

Ramble

[Ereefic]

Ramble, I believe the old style of nitrate reactors needed some type of carbon source (vodka, etc.) to feed the bacteria, and I believe that is where the problems came from.

The Sulfer Denitrator, use sulpher as the food source for the bacteria and is much safer.

If you follow the link in the first post, there should be a couple of articles linked about this method.

[Ereefic]

Beergeek, any updates on this? Did you test your levels before and after?

[beergeek]

I was in to much of a Hurry to get in in before to do tests. Four days after putting it in I did Nitrate, Nitrite, and Alk tests. Nitrate, Nitrite were both 0 (or as much as you can tell by looking at colors). When doing tests my nitrate/nitrite levels were always low, but I was getting red hair algae bad. In reading some people had said this had really helped with that so i fgiured I would give it a try. My Hair algae is almost completely gone, defiantely under control now. I have a 46G tank with a 20G sump and have it doing about one drop every 2 seconds. I do have probably to much biomass in tank as I have Two Ocellaris Clowns, a Yellow Tang, Three Four Stripped Damselfish, a Lawnmower Bleny, and a Long Spine Urchin. The only thing at all negative I have seen is that I am getting mroe Coarline growth on the glass, but all the inhabitants seem to be doing great, just a little more work for me.

[Ereefic]

Cool, glad it is working out for you. I should be ordering one next week.

[Ereefic]

Just ordered one this moring.

I'll post numbers before, during and after for all to follow.

[Ereefic]

I've had my denitrifier running since 3-31.

As of 5-17, I had no results. So I took the unit down, cleaned it out and started over. This was on 5-17. I also added some bacteria that Rick sent me from MA.

On 5-22, Rick from Midwest Aquatics recommended I put the unit in my sump because the temperature from the effluent was about 70 degrees, being in the cool basement.

On 5-26, Nitrites out of the unit are now 0 and the nitrates have dropped slightly. They should drop off to 0 in the next few days.

It sounds like the temp. was a big factor in the unit working, or at least working quickly. Apparently, they do there testing with the units at 78 degrees. I'll update as things progress.

[beergeek]

Glad to hear it is workinjg for you Eric. I have been super busy moving my brother in and have not had time to run tests. Today I have to get the chiller hooked up do some cleaning so maybe today.

[Pike614]

Is there any update on this thread? I am considering one of these units, and was looking for feedback. Anyone have one running currently??

[MM]

Ramble, I believe the old style of nitrate reactors needed some type of carbon source (vodka, etc.) to feed the bacteria, and I believe that is where the problems came from.

The Sulfer Denitrator, use sulpher as the food source for the bacteria and is much safer.

If you follow the link in the first post, there should be a couple of articles linked about this method.

The first feed units i remember reading about actually feed sugars, this was much more tricky, dangerous than any of the techniques used today. this caused problems fast after nitrates were reduced to close to zero. please dont ask how many years ago that was.

- mark