Managing nitrates the good old fashioned way..... [VIDEO]

[samparker]

People often ask me what I do for nitrate control in my main display tank with the fish load I have, my answer - sulphur!

 

[Peace River]

Thanks @samparker! This is an interesting approach!

I'm curious if others have used this methods and what did you find?

 

[samparker]

Surely some of the older reefers have

 

[Dugless]

How do you feed your reactor?

 

[samparker]

How do you feed your reactor?

I tee off my return pump and restrict the outlet of the reactor

 

[Feet4Fish]

I have long been contemplating using a sulphur reactor as a nitrate filter in my 650 gallon FOWLR build. Also have considered a Jaubert style remote plenum in my basement. Awesome video and the most informative on the subject I have seen out there!

 

[samparker]

Glad it was of service for you!

 

[Sm51498]

I remember when building these was a bit of a trend. They are effective but a bit sensitive and as I recall not without dangers.

 

[samparker]

I remember when building these was a bit of a trend. They are effective but a bit sensitive and as I recall not without dangers.

I find them not to be too sensitive at all and I think the "dangers" are over stated, but I'd be curious to your experiences?

 

[Sm51498]

I find them not to be too sensitive at all and I think the "dangers" are over stated, but I'd be curious to your experiences?

I built one and ran it with a needle valve on the outlet. I got tired of dealing with the media (one more thing to do) and the low pH of the effluent (my Calcium reactor was bad enough) and shut it down. I found adjusting the flow through to be as annoying as a coil denitrator but at least you didn't have to feed it vodka.

 

[samparker]

I built one and ran it with a needle valve on the outlet. I got tired of dealing with the media (one more thing to do) and the low pH of the effluent (my Calcium reactor was bad enough) and shut it down. I found adjusting the flow through to be as annoying as a coil denitrator but at least you didn't have to feed it vodka.

Fair enough. I've had mine running for 5+ years now and find if you keep the feed water free of detritus, you almost never have to touch the reactor again. I clean my media every 12-18 months due to detritus making its way into the reactor, but other than that it has been bullet proof

 

[samparker]

oh the PH leaving the sulphur reactor was around 7.5-7.6, nothing of too much concern?