URGENT, denitrate reactor producing nitrites, at an increasing rate!

Ontheway · 01/21/2015, 01:36 PM

Hi all,

A week ago, I started a denitrate reactor, with a low flow. Since nitrate output increased, I decided slow down a bit more, something like 7-8 drops per sec. This resulted an increase in nitrates and nitrites (50 and 2). Next day, slowed down to 1 drop per second, next day output measured as 75 and 5. Then I adjusted outflow to 1 drops in two seconds, today, after 24h, nitrates 75 and nitrites 10. I am afraid I am away from home and there are limited options for ppl at home. They can dose alcohol (200 proof, %99 pure), and/or they can inject fritz zyme 460. At this point, I need advises to recover the situation. Should I remove the denitrator? Or use any of the options above and wait until denitrator starts to function? Thanks in advance.

julie180 · 01/21/2015, 04:07 PM

Nitrate reactors take some time and fine tuning to get right. I never found it useful and gave up.

What are your nitrates testing at? I think a lot of people freak out over numbers that unless you are trying to run an SPS dominate tank, will not be a problem.

I would say at this point, if the reactor is making things worse, shut it down.

hart24601 · 01/21/2015, 04:07 PM

I would personally remove it since you are away from home. But then again I would just buy a timer, drews doser and a bottle of vodka.

Ontheway · 01/21/2015, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julie180

Nitrate reactors take some time and fine tuning to get right. I never found it useful and gave up.

What are your nitrates testing at? I think a lot of people freak out over numbers that unless you are trying to run an SPS dominate tank, will not be a problem.

I would say at this point, if the reactor is making things worse, shut it down.

Mine is fowlr at the moment, but before giving up with denitrate, was considering give it one more chance, a day or two to see if it decide to get on track.
Display tank values are about 25 for nitrate and 0.05 for nitrite.

jonwright · 01/21/2015, 08:25 PM

Dooooood! FOWLR - take the denitrator offline. Change the water.

Sit down in a comfy chair. Enjoy your fish tank with your favorite adult beverage.

Fish are fine with those levels. And even still I'd only be looking at the nitrate level if I had an SPS only tank.

Changing your water should take care of the trite and Tate issue in the short term.

I see absolutely no need for a coil denitrator for a FOWLR that's cycled.

What am I missing? Why do you need a denitrator for a FOWLR setup?

Ontheway · 01/22/2015, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonwright

Dooooood! FOWLR - take the denitrator offline. Change the water.

Sit down in a comfy chair. Enjoy your fish tank with your favorite adult beverage.

Fish are fine with those levels. And even still I'd only be looking at the nitrate level if I had an SPS only tank.

Changing your water should take care of the trite and Tate issue in the short term.

I see absolutely no need for a coil denitrator for a FOWLR that's cycled.

What am I missing? Why do you need a denitrator for a FOWLR setup?

Well, I am trying to establish it for future, of course.

jonwright · 01/22/2015, 11:45 AM

I don't mean this like it's going to sound - so believe me I'm smiling when I type this:

Future ain't here yet.

Depending on the corals you get they might use some of the phosphate and reduce the nitrate thats in your tank. So *IF* you get into the situation that you need to reduce the nitrates is when you should start doing it. If you are going to get HEAVY into SPS you MIGHT need it - then again, you might not.

My opinion. You use this stuff to help balance or offset your CURRENT bioload in the tank - so putting stuff in that's taking care of a problem you don't have is rather asking for a different problem.

...which is what you have now.

My advice: Take the denitrator offline. Start putting in the tank what you want - in a few months *IF* you need it revisit the denitrator (and also you can discuss with folks who, as above, perhaps have gone a different way to reduce nitrates). You may decide that a sand bed in a bucket will suffice, for example.

Or even better - you just don't need to do it.

Most folks running SPS already have nitrate down below where you currently are due to husbandry practices, skimmer or other reasons to drive nitrate down. So, if, for instance you have a real dirty tank a denitrator may not help.

While your level isn't alarming for a FOWLR you may revisit your skimmer set up, stocking, and husbandry practices to address the nitrate. Bring in auxiliary equipment once all that is settled.....IF you need it. Throw some zoas and other softies and watch them grow due to the nutrients in your water.

Ontheway · 01/22/2015, 12:50 PM

Well, thanks a lot for the advises. I think I will remove denitrator when I get home and go with WCs for a while. Then I may try biopellets, but not denitrator, Its clearly a risky piece of equipment, especially in the lack of expensive orp controller type units.

01/21/2015, 01:36 PM	#1
Ontheway Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 412	URGENT, denitrate reactor producing nitrites, at an increasing rate! Hi all, A week ago, I started a denitrate reactor, with a low flow. Since nitrate output increased, I decided slow down a bit more, something like 7-8 drops per sec. This resulted an increase in nitrates and nitrites (50 and 2). Next day, slowed down to 1 drop per second, next day output measured as 75 and 5. Then I adjusted outflow to 1 drops in two seconds, today, after 24h, nitrates 75 and nitrites 10. I am afraid I am away from home and there are limited options for ppl at home. They can dose alcohol (200 proof, %99 pure), and/or they can inject fritz zyme 460. At this point, I need advises to recover the situation. Should I remove the denitrator? Or use any of the options above and wait until denitrator starts to function? Thanks in advance. __________________ Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?

01/22/2015, 12:50 PM	#8
Ontheway Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 412	Well, thanks a lot for the advises. I think I will remove denitrator when I get home and go with WCs for a while. Then I may try biopellets, but not denitrator, Its clearly a risky piece of equipment, especially in the lack of expensive orp controller type units. __________________ Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?

01/21/2015, 04:07 PM	#2
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Nitrate reactors take some time and fine tuning to get right. I never found it useful and gave up. What are your nitrates testing at? I think a lot of people freak out over numbers that unless you are trying to run an SPS dominate tank, will not be a problem. I would say at this point, if the reactor is making things worse, shut it down.

01/21/2015, 04:07 PM	#3
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	I would personally remove it since you are away from home. But then again I would just buy a timer, drews doser and a bottle of vodka.

01/21/2015, 08:25 PM	#5
jonwright Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 658	Dooooood! FOWLR - take the denitrator offline. Change the water. Sit down in a comfy chair. Enjoy your fish tank with your favorite adult beverage. Fish are fine with those levels. And even still I'd only be looking at the nitrate level if I had an SPS only tank. Changing your water should take care of the trite and Tate issue in the short term. I see absolutely no need for a coil denitrator for a FOWLR that's cycled. What am I missing? Why do you need a denitrator for a FOWLR setup?

01/22/2015, 11:45 AM	#7
jonwright Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 658	I don't mean this like it's going to sound - so believe me I'm smiling when I type this: Future ain't here yet. Depending on the corals you get they might use some of the phosphate and reduce the nitrate thats in your tank. So IF you get into the situation that you need to reduce the nitrates is when you should start doing it. If you are going to get HEAVY into SPS you MIGHT need it - then again, you might not. My opinion. You use this stuff to help balance or offset your CURRENT bioload in the tank - so putting stuff in that's taking care of a problem you don't have is rather asking for a different problem. ...which is what you have now. My advice: Take the denitrator offline. Start putting in the tank what you want - in a few months IF you need it revisit the denitrator (and also you can discuss with folks who, as above, perhaps have gone a different way to reduce nitrates). You may decide that a sand bed in a bucket will suffice, for example. Or even better - you just don't need to do it. Most folks running SPS already have nitrate down below where you currently are due to husbandry practices, skimmer or other reasons to drive nitrate down. So, if, for instance you have a real dirty tank a denitrator may not help. While your level isn't alarming for a FOWLR you may revisit your skimmer set up, stocking, and husbandry practices to address the nitrate. Bring in auxiliary equipment once all that is settled.....IF you need it. Throw some zoas and other softies and watch them grow due to the nutrients in your water.