All about Denitrator

Wow, nice info there.

After the terrible incident, the output from my denitrator is more stable. Now i get 0 nitrate output and less rotten egg smell. Is it due to the sudden increase in carbon source that the anaerobes start to work double hard? IF so, then when the carbon source depletes, means the anaerobes will start to die and i'm back to square 1?

Another qns... is the nr5000 better or a modified eheim cannister is better?

Originally Posted by Lonerboi

Wow, nice info there.

After the terrible incident, the output from my denitrator is more stable. Now i get 0 nitrate output and less rotten egg smell. Is it due to the sudden increase in carbon source that the anaerobes start to work double hard? IF so, then when the carbon source depletes, means the anaerobes will start to die and i'm back to square 1?

Another qns... is the nr5000 better or a modified eheim cannister is better?

Too little carbon source, very little denitrification.
Too much carbon source, anaerobe will bloom and choke the denitrator leading to too many dead spots inside. Beside having slime coming out, hydrogen sulfide is the other.

Hmmm NR5000 is more than twice the size of the modified eheim canister (like the one bro mudskipper is using). How to compare?

Very clear explanation. Any drawback of this way of managing the flow rate of the Denitrator?
Sorry if I am jumping the gun, just go at your pace.

Originally Posted by Spakase

Very clear explanation. Any drawback of this way of managing the flow rate of the Denitrator?
Sorry if I am jumping the gun, just go at your pace.

The major drawback is COST!

There are many ORP controllers in the market. Some are relatively cheap (less than 200) and some are expensive (800 and above). The problem is not many can be use for this application. Most of them can be set to a minimum of 0mV which is suitable for ozone application.

IMO, denitrification best performance occur in the region between -200 to -250mV. The main requirement is exactly as what mod Sunburst had mentioned previously, which is the ability to set to -500mV although -300mV is the possible.

Could you explain what -500mV indicates?

Originally Posted by Spakase

Could you explain what -500mV indicates?

At this level, it indicates the presence of very powerful reducers namely hydrogen sulfide. This occur because the anaerobe change it diet from nitrate to sulphate.

Originally Posted by atom

At this level, it indicates the presence of very powerful reducers namely hydrogen sulfide. This occur because the anaerobe change it diet from nitrate to sulphate.

May i ask where does the source of sulphate come from?

Originally Posted by Lonerboi

May i ask where does the source of sulphate come from?

Tap water, fish food, water conditioner, unpure salt, buffering agent.....

[mudskippy]

Originally Posted by atom

Too little carbon source, very little denitrification.
Too much carbon source, anaerobe will bloom and choke the denitrator leading to too many dead spots inside. Beside having slime coming out, hydrogen sulfide is the other.

Hmmm NR5000 is more than twice the size of the modified eheim canister (like the one bro mudskipper is using). How to compare?

Definitely NR5000 is better, since the capacity is alot bigger than the eheim DIY canister. But the cost also proportionate to it effectiveness... So far I am very happy with my denitrator, dun need to do much work but just take care of the dripping rate...

[mudskippy]

Originally Posted by atom

At this level, it indicates the presence of very powerful reducers namely hydrogen sulfide. This occur because the anaerobe change it diet from nitrate to sulphate.

But this is quite easy to be fixed right? Just increase the dripping rate until the rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide) gone...