My Denitrator Test- 0 Nitrates! but..... dKH +16

Well I have done it.  No matter how many water changes I had done in the past I could not get nitrates below 20.  Now after less than a month and no water changes at all.  My nitrates have hit 0.
This is way cool.  It adds calcium too. 
The negative Result - My dKh is over 16.  I was having problems with one of my soft tree corals is is looking worse every day.  This must be why.
I am running the slow RO to fill the makeup water tank.  That water has a dKh of

 

Off hand I don't remember everything I tried to cut back nitrates but here are a few:
I crammed in live rock in the tank and some in the refugium/sump
I put in a lot of macro algae in the sump and move some up to the tank as the tangs eat it
I went through a ton of Reef Crystals doing water changes (that can really add up)
I added a protien skimmer (it is not that great but it was free and it does work)
I cut feeding back to the point that the fish jump out of the water to get food
I added more Garf Grunge
I didn't yet but wanted to get something that stirs up the sand more.  Like a star or clams.  Wouldn't that help?  Guess it doesn't matter now that there are no more nitrates.
I met a guy that runs a reef store while I was in Miami.  He has not done water changes in 6 years.  All his stuff looks good.  His method was feed the fish individually only little bits.  Use a wet dry filter.  And then top off.  I think his tanks looked great. Oh yah, he also uses really good skimmers.
Josh

 

That seems to be good advice. I'll do a 15% water change as soon as I can get the water made up. Then see how it reacts. Maybe another 15% in a few more days.

 

It seems I still have a sulphur smell being emitted. Wish I can get that fixed. There will be a point that I have to decide if it is worth the smell.

 

I got it from ebay here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Denitrator-Calcium-Reactor-and-Phosphate_W0QQitemZ150224455735QQihZ005QQcategoryZ46310QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I spoke with James the man who built my Denitrator.  He said mine and one other has had this problem of giving off the sulpher smell.  He is sending me out new Sulpher media.  He is sure that it must be that I had it sitting for a week with water when I first got it with out it running.  I was traveling and was not at home to monitor it.  He said the other had it sitting for a while too.   He said he will send me new media for free.  The man is very good at customer service. This is the third thing he is shipping for free after my first initial purchase.

 

I like the idea of building a bigger skimmer.  I'll look at your posts and see if you have put out info. on it.  If it is not out there or if you have time could you share your plans and expierences with your DIY skimmer?

 

Thanks,

Josh

 

Posted By ryansholl on 03/20/2008 8:59 AM
That'd be the key right there.  I'd say that if you were to upgrade your skimmer or improve the one you've got you'd probably have better luck.
I never saw any downside to using sugar to bring nitrates down back when I had a problem with them (before I built a bigger skimmer).  You might read up on that option and see if you want to give it a go as well.
Sorry,
I meant to Quote this first.  Please share your material list (where you bought it), and plans.  It might be out here already I'll check.
Thanks again.
Josh

 

Ryan,

That is my kind of DIY work. I love it. I have some catching up to do (mesh modded??? must do something to get more bubbles) but I think I get it all in general.

Are you in Cedar Rapids or vacinity? I'd love to see it.

I thought of building something similar till I got the seaclone 150 for free. Now after seeing what you have done I think I better reconsider. I may need to wait though. My seaclone fits (baerly) under my stand. I would need to put something like you are making in a sump off to one side.

You said you would do it over with two different pumps. Would that still be gen-x pumps? What size? Using 2 would cut down on the foot print.

What is your total demensions?