[ilovemash]

Hey everyone I am back. Been very busy, but in the midst of all my business I did a lot of research and have learned so much. I wanted to share with you all a project that I studied and read about that if interested in a biodenitrator would save you a ton of money.

Biodenitrators, for those of you who are unfamiliar, break down (in simple terms) nitrates. The media they use is a type of sulfate that actually detoxes and breaks down nitrates into its arguably smallest form. Unbelievable, right? I thought so too. I was always under the impression the only solid way to "get rid" of nitrates was by doing water changes (fuges help too). There are additives that say they remove nitrates from the aquarium but I don't believe or trust those products for a second!

I must say though that this Biodenitrator really does work. I sampled one for a few weeks and did not do a single water change. Sure enough I gradually began to see my nitrate levels decrease. Amazing! I had to have one, so I called up my supplier and was shocked to hear that the wholesale cost on this item was around $400, and the media it need was about $100. I don't know about you guys but Id rather maintain my low nitrate levels by using a fuge and doing regular water changes. In a nutshell, I was pretty bummed.

So the weeks passed, I put it out of my mind until one day while talking with one of my co workers (the one who let me sample this product), he approached me with a concept. A concept that was so out there and crazy that I should have just dismissed it. His concept was a DIY Biodenitrator using sand. I went home that night and did a little research on how this could work, and browsed on the internet if his concept was possible. Turns out it is very possible and actually works! Yes, I am now speaking from experience.

What you do is take a small, 10-12 gal aquarium, or basic sump system. It is easier to use a basic sump system because most have a pre drilled hole in the side that can be used to attach a pump to.
Next you take a very thin wire mesh (obviously not metal), thin enough that sand does not pour through the holes, and suspend that about a third of the way from the bottom. I used silicone and pvc pipes to bind it in place.
After that you take sand (enough to make about a six to eight inch sand bed) and pour it over the wire mesh.
You then place the drainage cover over the top and place your drainage hose into the hole for it. Hook up your pump to the drilled hole in the side and run the return tubing back into your system.
From this point its pretty much plug and play. Obviously there will be some tinkering that needs to be done to achieve maximum flow, but for the most part it is a hassle free project.

The end result is a DIY biodenitrator that works by flowing water through a thick sand bed and dropping it into the bottom, it is then pumped into the next location. Mine pumps from here into my refugium and back into the tank.

After observing this for some time now, I have noticed a steady decline in nitrates to the point that they are now virtually untraceable!

I thought Id share this with some of you in hopes that you all can give feedback and maybe even give it a shot. Oh by the way, I ended up saving about $350 making my own!

[e_baer]

Sounds very very simple. So, I am picturing something like this:



The water entes at the top of the tank. flows through the sand then out where the pump is back to a fuge, or the main tank.

Is this right?

[jimw369]

Sounds great but much easier and cheaper to build a DIY Coil Denitrator for $30.

Sounds like a DSB to me with a little plenum twist to it?

[jimw369]

I dont see the "so out there crazy concept". Its the same as having a sump running water over bio-balls.

[unclejed]

So, I have this sump;Aquarium Filtration: All-Glass Aquarium MegaFlow Sump Filter Wet/Dry Filter
Your idea is to replace the bio ball with all sand. Intriguing idea, now what if flow is too slow, take out some sand maybe?

[ljv]

I think this setup would make me a bit nervous. If your pump outpaces the flow of the water through the sand, it will pump the area underneath dry. If the sand packs up you could overflow the sump and cause a real mess.

Perhaps adding a divider on the right side where the water could overflow down to the pump in case the sand can't handle the flow. This would give you some additional safety.

[unclejed]

Yes Larry, one of my concerns also. When you turn the return pump off for maintenance and the sump fills up, is some sand going over the baffle? Could clog up pumps and ruin them. This needs further investigation.

[geekdafied]

Thats called a Plenum. Been around for decades. Its an UnderGravelFilter with a twist. Instead of using Airlifts you're using a pump to pull water through the sand. Google Plenum and you will see all sorts of designs for it.

[ilovemash]

Like I said you will have to tinker with it to get proper flow but it doesn't take long and it actually does work. Ther setup I did does not have any baffles, it is just sand from one side to the other suspended by the wiring.

[SECRETREEF]

you should make the flow very slow for it to become a denitrator and make sure it gets oxygen before returning to your tank. if flow is fast it will become a wet dry filter but with sand. as for the oxygen use a protein skimmer or an airstone after it passes the sand bed.

[irishguy24]

i really would like to see a picture of this when it's done