I kinda skimmed through the previous posts. thought I'd say that because I typically read every post in the thread before I'd comment.
With that said, here goes...
I used to read about these types of contraptions. But never liked all the possible screw ups that could happen. Kinda like these commercails on TV... This will fix this... BUT, could cause 20 other problems while doing it. Then they say, Ask your dr. about this stuff. Which then I'm hoping that if anyone actually did ask their dr. He would slap'em up side the head, and point at all the stuff they already warned them about in the commercial.
Ok lol, back to de-nitratin'....
I did try one thing a few years back, that was borrowed from them reef folks.
And that was a plenum. Seemed to have worked. Nitrate did go to zero in the tank. Its not really something I'd recommend. I was bored, and this was a cheap experiment.
I didn't get to any long term conclusions, sense it was taken down with in a few months. It could have been interesting sense I DIY the whole filter system. Baddest lil 25g filter I ever saw. And I made it. lol
Goes with the "want something done right... DIY" thing.
NOW
I like plants!
What kept me from trying plants for sooo many years, was that. Everything I was reading, was talking about major lighting and co2 systems to have any luck. But I'm learning different now, that I've actually tried some.
Soooo.... If its possible to set-up something in the stand. I'd imagine something as small as a 10g would be plenty. You could easily keep the nitrates very low.
Just off the top of my head. I'd say something like a 10g with a 30ish watt cf over it. With some Hygrophila corymbosa in 2" of flourite. I've had good success growing this, and it would be very easy to maintain.
Then have Only around 10 gph moving to and from it. Via either the tank or better yet from a sump(if your using one).
The gph could be adjusted later, but I'd keep it real low to start with.
With this, you could even add a DIY CO2 to the 10g, and not worry much about co2 loss for the plants.
Just some off the wall/head thoughts about a simple, not so dangerous possible alternative.
I haven't done anything like this... Yet. But have done some thinking about it for the indoor pond. Mainly because of trying to light add co2, etc to that big of a foot print, would be uberly rediculasly expensive.
Why this Wouldn't work... IDK?
