WTB Midwest or Korallin Sulphur denitrator

[Paraletho]

I would prefer the 15 inch but would consider the next step up.

[CoryDude]

Don't know too many around here that use one. I run two units and there's another member that uses one. I used a nextreef reactor and converted it to a simi-diy denitrator to save $$$.

You may want to ask around and see if anyone is selling a calcium reactor and just convert that. It wouldn't take much.

[Paraletho]

How hard is the conversion? I really don't want to buy a new reactor kinda pricey. I know what you mean about no one using them or at least no one selling them if they got em. I've got this posted on 8 different forums and nobody.


Don't know too many around here that use one. I run two units and there's another member that uses one. I used a nextreef reactor and converted it to a simi-diy denitrator to save $$$.

You may want to ask around and see if anyone is selling a calcium reactor and just convert that. It wouldn't take much.

[Europhyllia]

yes CoryDude, post your conversion ;)

[CoryDude]

If it's a calcium reactor, it's pretty easy. Your denitrator is going to produce nitrogen as a by-product, so you need to be able to vent this excess gas. This is done by having an opening at the top of the reactor that's connected to about 6 inches of tubing and a shut-off valve.

Since most calcium reactors feed co2 into the topmost point of the reactor, you just remove the bubble counter and add the shutoff valve. That way you can open the valve once too much nitrogen is present and bleed it out. Also, since the reactor already has a recirculating pump, you just want to make sure the recirculating flow is from bottom to top.

Then just replace the araganite material with caribbsea's live sulphur media, or order the sulphur pearl beads from midwest aquatics. The pearl shaped stuff is about 3X as expensive as as the carribsea lsm, but it's less prone to clogging. I've used the carribsea lsm with no problems. Then you can either gravity feed the unit with tank water or use a tom's aqualifter pump to feed the reactor. Make sure you have a good flow control valve on the outlet side, since you want to start off with about 1 drop every 2 seconds for the first few weeks to build up the anerobic bacteria. After the break in period, you can turn it up to a faster drip rate as needed.

If you want to convert a media reactor, it's a bit more of a headache. Here's a link to my tank's thread http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?62469-Some-Dude-s-Reef-New-corals-6-7-11/page7. Look at post #64 for pics and directions. PM me if you need more info.

[CoryDude]

Oh, forgot to add, that you'll probably want the reactor to be about 2/3 full with the sulphur media and 1/3 full with aragonite media to help buffer the water since the anaerobic bacteria tend to make the water acidic. If you look at my pics I have the sulphur media in the xl nextreef reactor which feeds into another smaller reactor filled with argonite media.

As far as the amount of media needed, the volume of the Sulfur reactor should be about 1% the volume of the system if the NO3 levels are below 50 mg/l or 2% in systems where the initial concentration is greater than 50 mg/l.

[Paraletho]

Thanks for that Cory. I'll keep it mind for next time I just got a sweet deal on LARC a 21 " for 100 bucks with a second tube and base, inlet and outlet valves. Basically all I need is an Eheim pump and a DIY top and I have a second reactor. Happy reefing everyone on MAAST.

Kirk

[CoryDude]

Cool, look at my setup. It's pretty similar to yours. Just be very careful and go real slow when you're tapping the lid. I almost cracked mine becaus i went too fast.