Denitrator with bioballs

jmsf7 · 01/31/2008, 11:50 AM

I just bought an old but unused denitrator from a LFS. The unit uses the bioballs to facilitate the bacteria. Other than the sulfur denitrator units used, are bioballs still commonly used as a denitrator and proven to work?
Does the unit need to be in the dark? Has it worked with light? Anyone with first hand experience with bioball denitrators?

EnderG60 · 01/31/2008, 01:27 PM

I use one, bio balls at the end of a long 1/4" tube coil. Works ok, my nitrates went from 40+ to .5-2. My only beef with it is the constant adjusting.

Ill be changing to a sulfur shortly.

jmsf7 · 01/31/2008, 03:27 PM

Do you mean adjusting the drip rate? Is your unit in the dark?
My unit is not coiled, it's just a 6 in diameter 48" tall column filled with bio balls. Water starts from the bottom and slowly goes up and out at 1 drip per second.

I'm trying not to use sulfur because my unit will need some modification because it's sealed. I cannot figure out how to squeeze a bulk head fitting if I were to drill a hole on the bottom. If the bio balls work "with ease", I will not have to pay for the expensive sulfur. I want to have a feel if the bioball method works before taking the sulfur route.

01/31/2008, 11:50 AM	#1
jmsf7 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 65	Denitrator with bioballs I just bought an old but unused denitrator from a LFS. The unit uses the bioballs to facilitate the bacteria. Other than the sulfur denitrator units used, are bioballs still commonly used as a denitrator and proven to work? Does the unit need to be in the dark? Has it worked with light? Anyone with first hand experience with bioball denitrators?

01/31/2008, 01:27 PM	#2
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	I use one, bio balls at the end of a long 1/4" tube coil. Works ok, my nitrates went from 40+ to .5-2. My only beef with it is the constant adjusting. Ill be changing to a sulfur shortly.

01/31/2008, 03:27 PM	#3
jmsf7 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 65	Do you mean adjusting the drip rate? Is your unit in the dark? My unit is not coiled, it's just a 6 in diameter 48" tall column filled with bio balls. Water starts from the bottom and slowly goes up and out at 1 drip per second. I'm trying not to use sulfur because my unit will need some modification because it's sealed. I cannot figure out how to squeeze a bulk head fitting if I were to drill a hole on the bottom. If the bio balls work "with ease", I will not have to pay for the expensive sulfur. I want to have a feel if the bioball method works before taking the sulfur route.