Denitrators: Who uses them? What's your experience?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

How many of you guys use denitrators? How beneficial are they? Would you recommend them?

 

[bubbaque]

I use one and absolutely love it. It keeps my nitrate between 2-5ppm with basically zero maintenance.

That said I had issues with sps when adding one to an existing tank as it does change the biology of the tank. Let the sps adjust and you’ll be back in business without having to worry about nitrate. If starting a new tank I consider it a must have now.

 

[Arnielazo]

I have a Korallin 1502 denitrator got it a year ago and I love it keeps nitrates low I stock heavy feed heavy and went 11 months without a water change. I went BB and moving towards sps and I may not need it in the future but it could be turned into a calcium reactor if needed.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I use one and absolutely love it. It keeps my nitrate between 2-5ppm with basically zero maintenance.

That said I had issues with sps when adding one to an existing tank as it does change the biology of the tank. Let the sps adjust and you’ll be back in business without having to worry about nitrate. If starting a new tank I consider it a must have now.

Which one do you use?

 

[bubbaque]

Which one do you use?

https://www.marinedepot.com/aquamaxx-ts-2-sulfur-denitrator

 

[ca1ore]

A few different kinds of denitrators. Mostly ‘old’ tech at this point. I’ve been running a sulfur reactor for a while. Works well to drive down nitrates .... but adds sulfates. Latter don’t seem to be hugely problematic. Also eats alkalinity.

 

[Jon_W79]

I really like mine. I can easily set my nitrate to wherever I want it. I think a sulfur denitrator is a better choice now than it has ever been. I think it's partly because live rock isn't as readily available now, and is more expensive now. Live rock can be a good way to at least really help reduce nitrate, and I think it helps biological filtration in general. I have seen very few, if any, pictures of nice sps tanks using a sulfur denitrator until recently. I think they may now start to become more common. We're going to have some good examples here.

 

[Reef Tripp]

Donovan, Nitrate Destroyer.

 

[JumboShrimp]

The AquaMaxx T-1 and T-2 have been out of stock at Marine Depot for what seems like 4-5 months; I even called, and they said they would get me word when they would be in stock, but no one ever did. :rolleyes:

 

[JMM744]

Built a denitrator after Donovan’s example. My system runs above 50 all the time and so far the denitrator is not getting my numbers down. I am still working things out obviously.

 

[eric.tech]

Built a denitrator after Donovan’s example. My system runs above 50 all the time and so far the denitrator is not getting my numbers down. I am still working things out obviously.

everything I’ve read about these, you essentially have to “cycle” them before they start working. Can be a month or two before is starts working. Also tuning them can be tricky. Perhaps the folks running them can chime in on this.

 

[josephxsxn]

Built my own sulfur denitrator on my old tank, worked amazingly well. Only reason I didn't reuse it on my new tank was because I had not built it in a way it could really be serviced (was glued shut .)

As others say they do consume alittle Alkalinity.

 

[JMM744]

I found that I was dosing way too little vinegar so upped the dose ,now wait and see.

 

[bubbaque]

I found that I was dosing way too little vinegar so upped the dose ,now wait and see.

You shouldn’t have to dose anything with a sulfur denitrator.

 

[JMM744]

Mine is a home made nitrate destroyer modeled after Donovan’s in his thread about it.

 

[Reef Tripp]

The donovans nitrate-destroyer is correct, it feeds on carbon: nopox, vinegar, vodka and, unlike sulfur, it does not lower alk.

 

[Bill Febel]

I use a Korallin S1502 with the apex monitoring ORP and a Kamoer for flow. This thing has dialed my nitrates to 6ppm for 2 years! I love it and it’s virtually zero maintenance with the exception of servicing the Kamoer.
My advice is to buy a used Korallin 1502 and turn it into a sulphur reactor. I found mine on Craigslist for $30. The Kamoer was the only pricey piece. Definitely worth every penny!