Equipment Review and Discussion :: Denitrator

[CrazyHouse]

Has anybody tried using a coil denitrator in their turtle tank? To me it makes sense instead of doing water changes that eat up water conditioner. I am debating whether or not to make one and am just wondering if anyone has succesfully run one with turtles.

[Brianthedog18]

what is a coil denitrator?

[bri456789]

yeah what he said what is it

[CrazyHouse]

A denitrator is a filter that reduces Nitrates using anaerobic bacteria, I found plans for one here
http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/b ... tornew.htm
Basically its a long coil of tubing that water flows through before entering a chamber containing bio balls, the idea is as the water flows through the coils of pipe aerobic bacteria consume all the oxygen and by the time the water gets to the bio balls its devoid of oxygen allowing nitrate eating bacteria to grow (the bacteria are anaerobic meaning they are killed by oxygen) thus reducing nitrates.

[steve]

Nitrates are relatively harmless. Nitrates can be reduced through partial water changes or absorbed by aquatic plants. Water changes also remove other waste products in the water, so you may reduce the amount of water changes with a denitrator, but it is still necessary to do them.

[CrazyHouse]

Hey it never hurts to ask... Unfortunately aquatic plants are pointless for nitrate absorbtion but do make a good turt snack since they get eaten in minutes lol.
So basically it would just be easier to continue to do bi-weekly (Nitrates @ about 40 mg/L) water changes then eh?

[flutterby]

Turtles aren't as sensitive to nitrates as fish would be, it would probably be best just to save your money. But like your said if you're worried to the water changes.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Unfortunately nothing can replace a good water change.

I have found that feeding outside of the tank (in separate container) helps a lot. Waste degrader is a God-send for anyone with an adult RES since it greatly reduces any odor or waste. Changing the filter medium periodically helps too. I never let the filter medium go longer than around 10 days before it is changed.

And since I have a 90-gal, I will be investing soon in a python tube (hooks on to your faucet so you just turn the water on, and tank water gets drained out...reverse the valve & fresh water goes right into the tank) so I can do more frequent water changes. No more hauling buckets of water! Yippeee!!!!

[steve]

Hey, I just picked up a Python as well. Can't wait to get that sucker working (it's been a slow month).

[marisa]

I second industrial_girl---nothing beats a partial water change for lowering the nitrate level.

My python still sits in a box...

[Spookster]

My python still sits in a box...

You are just a glutton for punishment.

[Spookster]

Waste degrader is a God-send for anyone with an adult RES since it greatly reduces any odor or waste.

What waste degrader?

[Muirner]

It's a liquid additive, like "Turtle Clean" It's a biological reduction of turtle waste. FOr rapid reduction of turtle waste.

It's a substitute for no biological media i assume by the description. I got it for my 10 gal tank, but with my new xp3 i wont be needing it.

[grey goose]

I'm a little suspicious of that stuff. I think it would build up on your sponges, like mud.....

[CrazyHouse]

I used to use it but from what I saw it simply liquified the waste turning it into ammonia ( I got a small ammonia spike every time I used it). Now the bottom of my tank is only lightly covered in large river rocks and my filter seems to suck pretty much everything up. I only clean my Fluval 404 once a month (every 2 water changes) even then its still in decent shape. I've got a 90 Gal and I don't know how I could do water changes withought my python. The reason I wanted to reduce water changes is because I was told that I HAD to use ZooMed Repti-Safe water conditioner and at $12 per 258ml bottle it isn't cheap (I use about half per water change). I realised a few days ago that regular aquarium water conditioner would do the same job for a heck of a lot less cash ($10 for 480ml).