Written by Joe Richardson (Omedman)

In the Computer gaming world the really dedicated players sometimes resort to a tactic called “Overclocking”. This is when the software running the computers processor is adjusted to increase the speed beyond the manufacturer’s settings. Even though I was a network administrator in college, I was leery of even trying such a risky tactic. The increased speed causes increased heat which could cause the computer to crash. So, when I found out about a new method of filtration using sulfur that in essence “overclocks” my fish tank, I wondered what could possibly be the benefits that would outweigh the risks?

I now live my life on the computer, but am still not as concerned about my computer crashing as I am about my saltwater reef crashing. Yet, with very little information available and less experience, I “Overclocked” my saltwater fish tank!

Crazy, yes, but for me it was worth it.

High nitrates are the enemy of the saltwater aquarist. We all know many bad things start to happen when your nitrates get too high. And, high nitrates are directly linked to the bio-load of your tank and it’s ability to filter out waste.

I think one of the most fascinating things about a saltwater reef is the amazing colors. But nothing is worse than being told you can’t get another colorful fish because you have maxed out your bio-load, or you can’t get another beautiful Coral because you don’t have a calcium reactor. So how do we get around that? Bigger tank, calcium additives, more water changes, bigger refugium, more equipment? ( If this was a radio show, I would be playing the “Cha-Ching” sound of the old cash registers in the back ground every time a new option was announced)

I don’t even want to know the true cost of what I have already put into this hobby. There comes a point at which either our conscience, a loving spouse, or a bank tells us to reign in the costs. At first glance a sulfur denitrator looks like just another “Cha-Ching”, but when we look at what it would take to replace what it does, it is one of the most cost effective tools in this hobby. It can help you “overclock” your system to reduce nitrates when you have already maxed out the traditional methods. As an added bonus, it will also add calcium and alkalinity to your water as well so that in some systems it can take the place of a calcium reactor as well.

The easiest way to explain what a sulfur denitrator does is to picture the sulfur as a breeding ground for nitrate cleaning/consuming bacteria. The bacteria consume the nitrates and their byproducts are nitrogen gas and an acidification (lowering of Ph) of the water. This water is passed through a second chamber that has calcium media (aragonite) in it. The calcium media dissolves and raises the Ph of this water before dumping that “de-nitrafied”  and calcium saturated tank water mixture back into the tank. The build up of the nitrogen gas byproduct must be “burped” from the system every so often.

So what does this really mean to the the saltwater hobbyist?

More fish, more feeding, more coral, more color!

Also, could this be the real secret to the amazingly overstocked tanks of the likes of David Saxby, or commercial breeders? Many are deterred from even attempting to breed fish, because it seems like saltwater suicide to feed 8 times a day, with upwards of 3 water changes a day. Could this increase the incidence of “backyard breeding”, thus decreasing the initial cost of homegrown fish? It is really quite exciting if we follow the possibilities to their logical ends.

Sounds great, right? Well I need to warn you, the commercially available sulfur denitrators are clearly still marketed toward the European elite. They appear cost prohibitive often starting in the hundreds if not thousands of dollar range. Don’t worry , I’m not here to dash your hopes. The good news is that the process is so simple that if you are handy with acrylic, or know someone who is. It is a great do it yourself project!

Watch for the article next month where we will go more into depth as to how you can build your own Sulfur denitrator on a budget. In the meantime, discuss Sulfur Denitrators on this thread in our forum.

Related posts:

1. E-Course – Saltwater Aquariums 101
2. Simple Kalkwasser Reactor
3. Tank of the Month: July 2010
4. DIY – with a little help of some friends and a kit
5. DIY LED Light for your small tank for <$200