Are anaerobic reactors still a thing?

[kdx7214]

The last time I had a tank was about 16-17 years ago now (I'm just setting up a new one) and back then anaerobic reactors were just becoming popular. You used a 6" piece of PVC and ran airline hose through it in a tight spiral, then pumped tank water through it really slowly. The lower sections became anaerobic and N2 bubbled out of it slowly. If you didn't go slowly enough you usually got H2S instead.

Is this still a thing or has that died out and been replaced by better tech?

 

[outhouse]

Didn't work for me back then. Tuning was difficult. The next fad was better , turf scrubbers. I had limited success with those and chaeto. Today I'm using vibrant. And it's been the best out of all fads in 30 years

 

[kdx7214]

Didn't work for me back then. Tuning was difficult. The next fad was better , turf scrubbers. I had limited success with those and chaeto. Today I'm using vibrant. And it's been the best out of all fads in 30 years

Cool. I built one and had it working just fine. IIRC refugiums were just beginning to be a thing, but I never got to try them. Had to move and no chance for a tank for a few years.

 

[burningmime]

Not sure; that was way before my time. But sulfur reactors are still a thing, especially at large public aquariums, to reduce nitrates, although filter roller + skimmer + carbon dosing is working well enough for me.

The question to ask is, do you have high nitrates and low phosphates?

 

[kdx7214]

Not sure; that was way before my time. But sulfur reactors are still a thing, especially at large public aquariums, to reduce nitrates, although filter roller + skimmer + carbon dosing is working well enough for me.

The question to ask is, do you have high nitrates and low phosphates?

Right now I don't have anything as I'm still in the process of getting the tank setup. I was just curious as to the state of it. I'm trying to play catchup from 15 years without reefing

 

[Reef Tripp]

This is my destroyer nitrate donovan's is an aerobic tower and an anaerobic, fueled with carbón, vodka, vinegar
Currently it only works with the slow flow and I do not feed carbon once it drops from 50 to 10 no3

 

[kdx7214]

This is my destroyer nitrate donovan's is an aerobic tower and an anaerobic, fueled with carbón, vodka, vinegar
Currently it only works with the slow flow and I do not feed carbon once it drops from 50 to 10 no3

Very cool! When I built one (again, years ago) I used a 6' tall piece of 6" diameter pvc and did it all by hand. The extra height was great for the anaerobic parts, but couldn't really hide the thing lol