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tablet food Denimar contains organic substances that can be used com letely by the bacteria. The
only waste roduct is CO2.
The flow rate through the Nitratereductor is very slow. This is the main difference to other
aquarium filters where the water is often treated once er hour or even more often. The water in
the Nitratereductor should have a retention time of 4 hours at least. It is, however, sufficient to
treat it once er week. If the filter is adjusted correctly, the water leaves the filter nearly free of
nitrite and nitrate.
4. Description of t e Nitratereductor NR 400
The Aqua Medic Nitratereductor consists of a reaction vessel (1) of 2.3 l volume. To rovide surface
material for bacteria, the filter is filled with Aqua Medic Deniballs. They create an ideal
microclimate for denitrification. To avoid dead zones, the water is recirculated internally in the
Nitratereductor. A recirculation um is laced in the to .
In denitrifying filters, es ecially in units where the water has to ass through a long way, it can
occur that there is no even flow in the filter. Zones with a very low redox otential are created
where hydrogensulfide is roduced (the filter starts to smell badly). On the other side, zones with a
rather high flow may arise where nitrate is reduced only to nitrite. In each case, the conditions
vary in the different zones of the filter and it is nearly im ossible to find its right working oint.
These un leasant effects are avoided by the construction of the Aqua Medic Nitratereductor. The
recirculation ensures a com lete mixing and the same redox otential level in the whole filter.
Zones with a very low redox otential and the roduction of hydrogen sulfide are avoided. The
redox otential can be used for controlling the filter. The effectivity and the reliability of the filter
can be increased.
5. Connections
The following connections are located at the Nitratereductor:
- Inlet (4 and 5): Here, you can connect a 6 mm air tube. At the inflow, you find an adjustion
valve to adjust the flow rate. The best value is a rox. 0.5 - 1 l/hr (a rox. 1 dro er second).
The adjustion at the inflow causes a delay until you can read the adjusted dro number at the
dro counter at the water outlet. The dro counter is mounted inside the aquarium, close to the
water level. If the flow rate is regulated in the outlet, the valve may not be closed com letely in
order to allow roduced nitrogen to esca e. During the start hase in the first weeks, the outlet
valve should stay com letely o en.
- Feeding (4 and 6): Through this o ening, you can inject Denimar tablets with a syringe to
enhance denitrification. Dissolve the tablets beforehand in some water. The valve has to be
cleaned and closed after every feeding.
- Redox electrode (3): Through this o ening, you can ut the s ecial ressure resistant ORP
electrode with a s ecial length and standard thread (PG 13,5), Aqua Medic No.: 220.19.
- Outflow to aquarium (7): Here, you can connect a tube 8/6 mm.
6. Set-Up
The Nitratereductor is a hermetically closed system. The roduced gas (nitrogen and CO2) can
esca e through the water outlet. For this reason, the outlet should never be com letely closed
because an eventual over ressure may esca e through the water inlet and interu t the inflow.
The Nitratereductor has to be laced in a way that the water can flow off either directly back into
the aquarium or into the filtration chamber. In a seawater aquarium, it is advantageous if the
outflowing water is flowing into the inlet of the rotein skimmer or the trickling filter. In the rotein
skimmer, the water is saturated with oxygen before it comes back into the aquarium.
- Inflow: The inflow to the reductor can be realized as a by ass from the main circulation um
with the included T- iece (8). The flow rate is adjusted by the valve (5) and dro counter. You
should also ut a ta behind the T- iece to get a higher ressure on the by ass to the reductor
by slightly closing it.