Jasonanatal's 120 Gallon "Advanced Complexity" Reef Aquarium.

Jasonanatal's 120 Gallon "Natural Simplicity" Reef Aquarium Update.

Livestock: Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus Leucosternon)

Well my Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus Leucosternon) has been enjoying the new Tang Care Package that I provided for them. There is still a little territorial dispute between him and the Yello Tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) so I'm considering either adding a species of Dwarf Angelfish or another Tang to curb the aggression.





Photographs - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - My Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus Leucosternon) enjoying the new Tang Care Package.

 

Jasonanatal's 120 Gallon "Natural Simplicity" Reef Aquarium Update.

Equipment: Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter (Vodka Dosing at its Finest)

As many of you know I have been having a very difficult algae problem and even though Prodibio supplements have been doing a great job but I feel that my test kits are not displaying the correct results regarding chemicals that are being consumed by the algae and masked. So I decided that I should bring an old friend back into the mix even though I learned a valuable lesson from not doing all of my homework, the Deltec NF509 Nitrate Filter.

The Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter is currently setup underneath my aquarium where it is currently undergoing the beginning stage of seeding which kicks off the initial bacterial bloom within the reactor. The reactor feed line which is currently fed through an Aqua Lifter AW-20 Pump is turn off and the valve sealed in order to isolate the water within the chamber. This isolation is done to cause the Oxygen within the reactor to decrease leaving an ideal conditions for Anaerobic Bacteria to colonize the sponges within the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter Reactor Chamber. However, isolation of the water is not enough. The Bacteria are fed a Nitrate Fluid, which I have mixed (1 part Vodka "Absolute 80 Proof" and 3 parts RO/DI Water) as a food source which is injected into the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate filter in two 1ml doses a day. Over time as the Bacterial Colony grows the food consumption will increase.

The process is slow and has a high risks but if done correctly can yield excellent results in reducing Nitrate and Phosphates within my aquarium as well as naturally providing trace elements and in some cases a reduction in the consistancy of water changes that are required to keep a healthy aquarium.









Photographs - Friday, February 27, 2009 - My Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter.



Photographs - Friday, February 27, 2009 - My Aqua Lifter AW-20 Pump used to feed my Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter.

 

Jasonanatal's 120 gallon "Advanced Complexity" Reef Aquarium Update.

Chemicals: Nitrate Fluid (Do-It-Yourself) for the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter

The Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter utilizes naturally occuring anaerobic bacteria to remove chemical toxins from the aquarium water column. However, as the bacterial colony matures the food source (Nitrate & Phosphates) within your aquarium can become depleted. So you will need to supplement their food in order to sustain the bacterial colony and prevent it from collapsing. So the question is, how do you supplement the bacterial colonies primary food source? Deltec manufactures a specifically designed Nitrate Fluid that is available in the United Kingdom. However, they are not allowed to import this to the united states due to declining the increased workload associated with the distribution of Alcohol. Alcohol? Well the bacterial colony requires a carbon based food source as a supplement to their primary food source. Just so happens that part of the food is Alcohol based, Vodka to be more precise. Lucky for us Deltec advises that you can create your own Nitrate Fluid using a 1 part Vodka, 3 part RO/DI Water solution which will suite us just fine.

I mixed a batch (64 oz) of my very own Nitrate Fuild constiting on 1 part Absolute Vodka and 3 parts RO/DI Water, which is stored in an repurposed Organic Juice containter from my son. There is some discussion concerned around what type of Vodka should be purchased to concoct this mixture. Some individuals believe that purchasing higher priced Vodka which is a good indiciation that their distilling and purification process of of much better quality is the way to go. However, the majority of individuals purchase the cheapest Vodka available which seems to do the job adequetly. There is one rule that is specified. Do not purchase any Vodka with flavored additives! Also their is much discussion over the Proof of the Vodka. This is unfortunately more a play it by ear scenario as every aquarium is different and dosing amounts can also effect the outcome.

I personally am proceeding with a bit of caution since my last experience which left me to believe that this device cannot and should not be used in small aquariums since the risk associated with its operation becomes extremely high. I have started off with a 2 ml dosage (1 ml in the morning & 1 ml in the evening). The Nitrate Fluid is measure using a syringe and then dosed into the Deltec NFP 509 Nitrate Filter Reactor Chamber through the Non-Return Valve. The Miniature Ball Valve is currently closed since this type of bacteria exist in low level Oxygen environments. today is day 2 out 3 of the seeding process before the Miniature Ball Valve can be opened to allow a drip flow into the aquarium. I will keep everyone posted on the progress.



Diagram - Sunday, March 01, 2009 - The Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter main components.


Photograph - Saturday, February 28, 2009 - My home made Nitrate Fluid (1 part Absolute Vodka & 3 parts RO/DI Water) stored in a 64 oz container.]

 

1. i'll take my nitrate fluid over ro/di ice, please

2. what type of trouble did you have with the nitrate reactor on the first go-round? hearing about people's struggles educates us all....

thanks!

 

Reply to Doog.

Doog, well lets just say that the Deltec Manual doesn't provide any information regarding the effect of Oxygen Depletion due to high amount of Vodka Dosing. I attempted this on my 28 gallon Nano Cube and managed to suck out enough Oxygen that all my livestock died. This is a great method of reducing and even eliminating Nitrates and Phosphates and naturally adding Trace Elements but their are many potential effects that need to be known before attempting this method.

 

Jasonanatal's 120 Gallon "Advanced Complexity" Reef Aquarium Update.

Equipment: Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter Efluent (Coming Online)

Well it has been four days and as the instructions state it is now time to open the Miniature Ball Valve to allow the Efluent to flow out of the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter Reactor Chamber and achieve a 1 drop of efluent every 3 seconds flow rating. So last night I did just that and brought the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter online. You might be wondering as to why you don't just open the valve all the way 1 drop of efluent is no where near capable of handling a 120 gallon aquarium. The reason is because the bacteria are slowly growing their colony and they require a low oxygen environment to grow. The water coming from the aquarium is high in oxygen and too fast of a flow to quickly can cause the bacterial colony to crash which means back to the drawing board as well as a very nasty smell of rotten eggs coming from the the Deltec NFP509 NItrate Filter. It seems slow and steady wins this race.





Photograph - Tuesday, March 03 2009 - The Efluent coming from the Deltec NFP509 Nitrate Filter at 1 drop every 3 seconds.

 

I see you changed the title of your build on your other forums as well.
Is there any particular reason why you choose Absolute Vodka for dosing your fish tank? Do the fish prefer Absolute over Kettle One?

 

Reply to Bogie.

Bogie, yep I decided to get a more fitting title on every forum that I particpate on. Also the Absolute Bottle was on sale when I purchased it. I must admit that I have not personally tasted Kettle One Vodka so I'm not sure if it has any flavored additives which would be a definite restriction on my Nitrate Fluid.

 

isn't ketel one a potato vodka - may have a different sugar makeup.

 

Reply to Doog.

Doog, I honestly have no idea. But when I contacted Marvin at D&D The Aquarium Solution he said Absolute Vodka would work just fine so that is what I purchased.