Denitrator, I have questions

[Tab64]

I use a wet dry filter and my 55 gal. tank has been crystal clear with healthy fish for years. After getting an anemone and lasting less than a week. I checked the nitrates. So wet dry lives to it's name sake of "nitrate farm" they were way high.

So I have been searching for denitrators and just wanted to know which is better. I have found sulfur, high end. Quessing "regular" still high but better. Coil types, found a place that makes them and descent price (IMO).

Which is better, and do the coil types or sulfur types require feeding? The site did not mention any feeding info, unlike the "regular" types did. Also if the pump is pushing at around 120 gph and it is exiting at about 50 gallons a week, this seems it would either explode the unit or kill the life span of the pump.

Do the sulfur types require the media to be changed?

[dorkfish]

First off, exactly how high was/is your nitrate level? other water parameters? What do you have for live rock, base rock and sand bed? How big is your tank? what do you have for lighting? water circulation? What is your fish population? Can't answer your questions about a denitrator, but I can tell you that nitrate in itself actually does no harm to inhabitants, however it's a good indicator of dissolved organic compounds (wich is what you should be concerned about, not nessisarily nitrate), so you should want to lower the DOCS' not just the nitrate.

Please don't buy another anemone, they have VERY poor survival rates in captivity; even if yours does live, the store will buy anpther one to replace the one you bought, and that one will most likely die in someone elses tank. If you bought your anemone for clownfish, that wasn't the best idea, for two reasos: 1) most clowns are tank bred, have never even seen an anemone and are just as likely to host in soft and some LPS corals as they are to host in an anemone 2) most if not all clowns will do great without an anemone.

[Tab64]

My ammonia and nitrates are 0. All other levels are fine, just nitrates. My tank has been running for about 9 years. I probably did not change water as often as I should have. It is lit with (2) 96 compacts both 50/50. It is a 55 gallon with about 3-4" crushed coral bottom.

The wet dry is just about no labor, that is why I liked it. The tank has no algae blooms, red slime seems cystal clear. It's habitats are a powder blue tang, I have had him for maybe 6 years now bought when 1 year before my emperor angel died had him as a baby and lived for 4 years. A maroon clown, maybe 5 years and a filament wrasse. The rock was bought as live rock when I first set up the tank about 9 years ago and. The wet dry has been operating all 9 years. It also has a protein skimmer I think from sea quest made for upto a 250 gallon tank. In the beginning I emptied the cup about once a week, now it takes about a month to 1/2 fill.

The tank also has a two 300 gph power heads one near the top and one near the bottom. My nitrates are off the chart. The test water could not get any redder. I have already changed out about 25 gallons over the last few weeks and still off the charts. I took out almost all the bio balls from the filter and my water I replaced is all 0 across the line. It seems the fish should be dead with this high nitrate level but they seem fine. The anemone was a Florida which I get down here for less than $5, I know the price should not matter. I know clowns do not like them as much as others

[jdizzle1000]

[QUOTE=dorkfish]I can tell you that nitrate in itself actually does no harm to inhabitants
QUOTE]


??? !!!

Nitrates can be very harmful if they accumulate. Some fish and invertabrates will tolerate nitrates up to 80 ppm, but some will have trouble with only 20 ppm or less.

[csloo]

I use a wet dry filter and my 55 gal. tank has been crystal clear with healthy fish for years. After getting an anemone and lasting less than a week. I checked the nitrates. So wet dry lives to it's name sake of "nitrate farm" they were way high.

So I have been searching for denitrators and just wanted to know which is better. I have found sulfur, high end. Quessing "regular" still high but better. Coil types, found a place that makes them and descent price (IMO).

Which is better, and do the coil types or sulfur types require feeding? The site did not mention any feeding info, unlike the "regular" types did. Also if the pump is pushing at around 120 gph and it is exiting at about 50 gallons a week, this seems it would either explode the unit or kill the life span of the pump.

Do the sulfur types require the media to be changed?

First of all, you must know where is your NO3 source coming from. THis is important since terminate the source will kill those NO3 away.

But for my opinion, water(RO water) changes is the best solution to minimize NO3 level since that Denitrator will take a period to slow down NO3 process.

If you ask me which DeNo3 is better,i will chose latest technology of sulphur deNO3 that non require feeding. You can use your search engine to trace it or can view such product under www.sgreefclub.com.(singapore Forum).

Thanks.

[dorkfish]

I suspct your crushed coral bed has something to do with it, everything else is for the most part ok (you didn't specify how much rock you have). To confirm this, use a gravel vacum (commonly used in freshy tanks) and vaccum your substrate. If you get what apears to be more fish waste and uneaten food than water in the bucket, this is probably a major nitrate/DOC source.

[dorkfish]

I can tell you that nitrate in itself actually does no harm to inhabitants



??? !!!

Nitrates can be very harmful if they accumulate. Some fish and invertabrates will tolerate nitrates up to 80 ppm, but some will have trouble with only 20 ppm or less.

On what grounds do you base your arguement? Give me some links stating exactly what it is in nitrate, not the DOC's that it usually inducates, that makes it so harmfull, and maybe I'll except your words as fact.