Denitrification Reactor question

[MichaelJ]

Who’s running one? I’m battling high Nitrates
Was thinking of getting one cuz I don’t want to kill a clam. Phosphates at 0.2. Nitrite 0.1. I’m pretty sure I murdered a fire fish.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I thought about running one as I run reef moonshiners method and don't do water changes, but I added a clam in November. No3 has gone from 90+ to 19ppm as of yesterday.

 

[MichaelJ]

I thought about running one as I run reef moonshiners method and don't do water changes, but I added a clam in November. No3 has gone from 90+ to 19ppm as of yesterday.

That much? How big was the clam when you got it?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Maybe 3". I'll look for pics later and snap a current photo. Out to dinner for my daughter's 21st bday.

 

[JPags]

I used to run a sulfur denitrator. Was a pain to run. It would get clogged up if the flow was too slow and need to be cleaned out. If keep the nitrates low. I also ran bio pellets after that and that was easier for Carbon dosing.

 

[dz6t]

Sulfur reactor is pretty much a no no these days, its output is acidic, so acidic that people can use it as a calcium reactor.
It can drop pH to dangerous level.
Carbon dosing with vinegar or vodka is a lot easier to lower nitrate. Or get a clam, clams are effective nitrate and phosphate removers.

 

[MichaelJ]

Sulfur reactor is pretty much a no no these days, its output is acidic, so acidic that people can use it as a calcium reactor.
It can drop pH to dangerous level.
Carbon dosing with vinegar or vodka is a lot easier to lower nitrate. Or get a clam, clams are effective nitrate and phosphate removers.

Yeah, I’m gonna get a clam for each tank…don’t need the added headache….

 

[dz6t]

How high is your nitrate?

 

[MichaelJ]

How high is your nitrate?

In the 60’s, .1 on phosphate…. I’m running my 54g DT with water changes but my 60 I’m doing the Reef Moonshiner thing….

 

[MichaelJ]

0 on nitrite and ammonia

 

[dz6t]

I won’t worry about it at 60. Also which test kit do you use?
If you have an API nitrate test kit, please immediately toss it in trash can. A good nitrate test kit is salifert, hanna checker.

 

[MichaelJ]

I won’t worry about it at 60. Also which test kit do you use?
If you have an API nitrate test kit, please immediately toss it in trash can. A good nitrate test kit is salifert, hanna checker.

I’ve been using Spin Disk….

 

[MichaelJ]

I won’t worry about it at 60. Also which test kit do you use?
If you have an API nitrate test kit, please immediately toss it in trash can. A good nitrate test kit is salifert, hanna checker.

I do have my Hanna checkers and the numbers are almost exact to the spin disk

 

[dz6t]

Good.
But I won’t worry about nitrate at 60.

 

[MichaelJ]

Good.
But I won’t worry about nitrate at 60.

That’s good to know…..still getting some clams though..

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Maybe 3". I'll look for pics later and snap a current photo. Out to dinner for my daughter's 21st bday.

Clam growth since November

 

[dz6t]

That is good growth.
The so called secret of clam farms is dosing ammonium nitrate. It accelerates the growth by up to 4x.