DIY Sulfur Denitrator

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12406831#post12406831 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
Yes sir.

Oh boy!...I just researched back and saw the pic where there's only a little bit of sulfur in the reactor at the very top and I don't think that's enough if you're trying to process over 1000 gallons through it.

Check out page 14 for guidelines on this.

1.5 liters up to a 250 gallon tank.

You can bring the flow down, but it will take an eternity to process all your system's water.

djfrankie
Click to expand...

Oh Jarrod,

I can't believe almost a month has gone by since I recommended to you to add more sulfur. Where has time gone?

Ok, here's the math my friend.

According to your systems' specs:

315 reef
900 lagoon
100 skimmer

= 1350 gallon system volume.

(1350 x 1.5) / 250 = 8.1 L of media.

If you want to save some pennies 30% of that could be Matrix.

8.1 x 30% = 2.4 L of Seachem's Matrix

You need 5.7 L of Sulfur media and 2.4 L of Seachem Matrix.

I really hope you can get this thing working.

djfrankie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582052#post12582052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wizsmaster
first time I've got to take pictures ... in a while!

this is the reason for why you should run a PRE-FILTER to the sulfur reactor ... this one used to be WHITE .. about a month & 1/2 ago.
IMG_5113.JPG


IMG_5115.JPG
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing!

djfrankie
 
"Even running the effluent through a calcium reactor will provide some benefit and maybe you can create and all in one unit. "

Thanks DJ! I was thinking of how to do this. The flow rate (not recirc rate) of the Ca reactor and the sulphur reactor will be different. It'd be tricky to feed the Ca with the nitrate reactors effluent, while still measuring each reactors flowrate. I suppose you could use a metered dosing pump.

So pH 7-9 is best. I just wondered if the bacteria were more "effective" at a lower pH, in which case I would leave out the Ca media til the effluent. Still seems like a little in the reactor to help buffer it, then effluent through more Ca is best.

Thanks for helping me get my head around this. Some of it is coming back from years ago at wastewater treatment school...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12559712#post12559712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EnderG60
ok so mine has been running wide open for a while now and I tested my nitrates and they are around 3-5.

I slowed my flow back down to 3 dps and the effluent readings went back to zero and I started getting gas buildup again.

Should I just leave the flow slower or should I add more sulphur?
Click to expand...

EnderG60,

I would rather make slow adjustments (10% increase or decrease). Nothing particular about that % is just easier for me to remember. If you were running at full flow and then halt the unit down to 3 dps you starve the bacteria and will smell hydrogen sulfide out of the effluent. A slow reduction sometimes is all you need (10 %) being my number.

I've also noticed that nitrate levels will increase a bit right after feeding, but within a few hours they will be down to zero. I don't know if this is your case or not though.

HTH,
djfrankie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582510#post12582510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
"Even running the effluent through a calcium reactor will provide some benefit and maybe you can create and all in one unit. "

Thanks DJ! I was thinking of how to do this. The flow rate (not recirc rate) of the Ca reactor and the sulphur reactor will be different. It'd be tricky to feed the Ca with the nitrate reactors effluent, while still measuring each reactors flowrate. I suppose you could use a metered dosing pump.

So pH 7-9 is best. I just wondered if the bacteria were more "effective" at a lower pH, in which case I would leave out the Ca media til the effluent. Still seems like a little in the reactor to help buffer it, then effluent through more Ca is best.

Thanks for helping me get my head around this. Some of it is coming back from years ago at wastewater treatment school...
Click to expand...

I was thinking of actually feeding the effluent into the second chamber of the calcium reactor as the eflluent rate at this point will not make a difference and maybe using a flowmeter on the calcium reactor's first chamber output will be ideal?

Hmmm...did that make sense? In other words a shared buffering section full of aragonite media that both calcium and nitrate reactor share...

Better yet,...that same effluent passes through a phosban reactor converting the H2S into more elemental sulfur which is greatly desired.

I'm sure you can figure something cool :D
 
can I get some specs then for my tank :)

270 gallon reef with a 112 gallon sump Minus the rock I estimate I have about 350 gallons of water. How much media should I use. I plan on using sulfur media only and toping that with aragonite (schuran size)
 
I need to source those nice glass low range flowmeters like on the MTC ProCal Last I checked they were about $100! Great idea though!

So would it be beneficial to run all these reactors through phosban before going back to the tank? I remember reading about someone using the alumina based phos remover on a Ca effluent.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582567#post12582567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skippyreef
can I get some specs then for my tank :)

270 gallon reef with a 112 gallon sump Minus the rock I estimate I have about 350 gallons of water. How much media should I use. I plan on using sulfur media only and toping that with aragonite (schuran size)
Click to expand...

Here you go:

(350 x 1.5) / 250 = 2.1 L of Sulfur.

djfrankie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582595#post12582595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
I need to source those nice glass low range flowmeters like on the MTC ProCal Last I checked they were about $100! Great idea though!

So would it be beneficial to run all these reactors through phosban before going back to the tank? I remember reading about someone using the alumina based phos remover on a Ca effluent.
Click to expand...

It is beneficial to run the nitrate reactor's effluent into GFO...as it converts hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur. I don't know if it would provide any benefits to the calcium reactor's side though.

I'm sure it can do no harm though since some of the aragonite media that's out there now contains low levels of phosphates.

So you can basically kill two birds with one shot :uzi:

djfrankie
 
Thanks :)

So that means I need 5 pounds of Sulfur media then for my tank. This stuff last forever though is what I am reading so the investment is a long term one :)

Going out tommorow to get teh glue and Fostner bits to start it. Since the chamber is 24" tall I am going to for the all in one unit. The unit will be the same size as my GEO 624 reactor that holds 16 pounds of media (over 7 liters) and since I need just over two of the sulfur media I am thinking I can add another 3 liters of aragonite to the top of that and leave room for the gas and degassing the unit.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582630#post12582630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skippyreef
Thanks :)

So that means I need 5 pounds of Sulfur media then for my tank. This stuff last forever though is what I am reading so the investment is a long term one :)

Going out tommorow to get teh glue and Fostner bits to start it. Since the chamber is 24" tall I am going to for the all in one unit. The unit will be the same size as my GEO 624 reactor that holds 16 pounds of media (over 7 liters) and since I need just over two of the sulfur media I am thinking I can add another 3 liters of aragonite to the top of that and leave room for the gas and degassing the unit.
Click to expand...

Right. Well, I don't think it will last forever, but it does last a long time ;)

Enjoy!

djfrankie
 
I read in Reef Aquarium volume III that it last a couple of years and in this hobby that is like forever when it comes to media. I was thinking of using an Eheim 1048 for the recirculation end of this and feeding off the return line. IS it better to have a seperate feed pump?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582660#post12582660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skippyreef
I read in Reef Aquarium volume III that it last a couple of years and in this hobby that is like forever when it comes to media. I was thinking of using an Eheim 1048 for the recirculation end of this and feeding off the return line. IS it better to have a seperate feed pump?
Click to expand...

You're right about that..LOL

Well, you can use the Eheim 1048 for both recirculating an feeding at the same time. Check out the H&S line of reactors for ideas. The new Calcium reactor I'm building is based on the same idea. The way I feed my reactor is though a "T" off the main return pump.

HTH,
djfrankie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582516#post12582516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
EnderG60,

I would rather make slow adjustments (10% increase or decrease). Nothing particular about that % is just easier for me to remember. If you were running at full flow and then halt the unit down to 3 dps you starve the bacteria and will smell hydrogen sulfide out of the effluent. A slow reduction sometimes is all you need (10 %) being my number.

I've also noticed that nitrate levels will increase a bit right after feeding, but within a few hours they will be down to zero. I don't know if this is your case or not though.

HTH,
djfrankie
Click to expand...

Im not getting any sulphide smell at all, and the gas production seems to have slowed if not haulted again. Flow is now about 5-7 dps, but effluent is 0 and tank is down to 2ish.

Though I am now using the seachem nitrate test since its easier to read on the low end then the API kit. So my initial reading of 0 might have been a bit off.

I have a good bit of sulphur left over from a few reactors I made for friends. By your lil equation above im running about the right amount of sulphur(around 3/4 L), but my bio load is pretty high so im wondering if I should add more media and gradually turn up the flow.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12582458#post12582458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
Oh Jarrod,

I can't believe almost a month has gone by since I recommended to you to add more sulfur. Where has time gone?

Ok, here's the math my friend.

According to your systems' specs:

315 reef
900 lagoon
100 skimmer

= 1350 gallon system volume.

(1350 x 1.5) / 250 = 8.1 L of media.

If you want to save some pennies 30% of that could be Matrix.

8.1 x 30% = 2.4 L of Seachem's Matrix

You need 5.7 L of Sulfur media and 2.4 L of Seachem Matrix.

I really hope you can get this thing working.

djfrankie
Click to expand...

thanks guess for all my issues.. looks like i need to pull the rest of the matrix since there is 4L of it in there now... I did add as much more as i could fit when we last talked about it.. but maybe i have too much bio matrix and not enough sulfur.. so i will pull a bit of matrix out and add the rest of my jug of sulfur which would be a full gallon of sulfur.. hopefully that will help out a lot..!!! plans for the weekend..!! thanks everyone again for your help with my issues..
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12586945#post12586945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Black71gp
thanks guess for all my issues.. looks like i need to pull the rest of the matrix since there is 4L of it in there now... I did add as much more as i could fit when we last talked about it.. but maybe i have too much bio matrix and not enough sulfur.. so i will pull a bit of matrix out and add the rest of my jug of sulfur which would be a full gallon of sulfur.. hopefully that will help out a lot..!!! plans for the weekend..!! thanks everyone again for your help with my issues..
Click to expand...

Jarrod......As dj said..........time does indeed fly right buy us. I think your on the right track with more sulfur. Be prepared for continued..........well be prepared as what I think is going on is your background (tank) Nitrates are VERY high, as are mine, whereas most folks are not that high, and because of that it's going to a LONG time for the SR to settle in, how long??? I don't think any one here can answer that as all situations are not created equal.

Now on mine I recently converted my ARM (not hooked up anyway) to carry a full load of sulfur, so therefore I flow from tank into the 1st reactor (with sulfur) then into the SR. Just have wait and see:mad2: :mad2:

Good luck with yours and YOU WILL GET IT !!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12587241#post12587241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve 926
Here is a great site for converting all sorts of equasions & figures.
the download is free & you will be amazed at what it will do.
You simply select the conversion & add the figures for an answer

YOU WON'T REGRET IT !!!!!!!

http://joshmadison.com/article/convert-for-windows/

Steve

:smokin:
Click to expand...

Just had a chance to check it out...pretty neat application!

Thanks,
djfrankie
 
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