DIY Sulfur Denitrator

[Black71gp]

I have a bunch of 6" PVC pipe, would be nice ot use 6" for the sulfur part and then 4" for the media part... but then fittings are so expensive i wish i could figure out another way to attach ends and such on the PVC

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11650591#post11650591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
I have started construction of a Sulfur Denitrator using this same design posted by the operator. I made a few minor changes, but will post photos and results as I near completion.

A few things I altered:
*Using a mag3 instead of a maxijet
*Ordered my sulfur 99.9% media from bghyrdro.com to save money
*created the media strainer disk using a flat 4" insert PVC endcap... I cut off the ridges w/ a dremel bit, and then perforated it quickly and easily w/ a 1/8" drill bit. PVC doesn't melt/crack easily like Acrylic, and it was cheap.
*Used 4" female adapters with male threaded 4" plugs on both ends... so much easier then worrying about 'gaskets' 'flanges' and what not. Cost less too.

I would say the grand total for this project has came to about: $175.

*** They do sell 6" PVC at menards, but all the fittings and pipe are so very expensive that it's cheaper to make dual 4" units probably, I may upgrade to a 6" unit in the future, but I only have about 5-10ppm nitrates holding fairly steadily... I just want to be able to feed the tank more often again, my skimmer is as fully modded/upgraded as possible, I have a RDSB (55G) and 2 refugiums (75/50G) on my 500G water volume system and still need more denitrating!

Great !

Can't wait to see pics of it.

Couple of things:
Fix the link so other people can find the media you're talking about.
Wondering if the media you're talking about comes in a powder form as this has already been tried and found to clog the system very easily.

HTH,
djfrankie

 

[siskiou]

Got a quick question: you use a 5/8 Forstner bit to drill out the holes, but need a 3/8 pipe tap for the threads?
Just don't want to buy the wrong stuff!

And the Jaco fittings are 3/8"?

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11653736#post11653736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
Got a quick question: you use a 5/8 Forstner bit to drill out the holes, but need a 3/8 pipe tap for the threads?
Just don't want to buy the wrong stuff!

And the Jaco fittings are 3/8"?

Got it!

1/2" CPVC is 5/8" diameter on the outside. So yes, 5/8" for the 1/2" CPVC tubing and 3/8" pipe thread for your valves.

djfrankie

 

[siskiou]

Thanks!

What about the hole for the effluent out?
Do I need a smaller Forstner bit for that, or do they have 1/2" Jaco fittings?

 

[NewbieGoneCrazy]

Hi DjFrankie

I have a few questions in regard to sulphur filtration. I bought a fluidized Bed Filter, which I am going to use for a sulphur filtration. After reading your post, I realise that my filter does not have "degassing output", would that be a problem?

I plan to use only one chamber with 3 medias, which are RowaPhos, sulphur and aragonite. Could you please help me with the best arrangement for the medias from bottom to the top? Will that actually work?

Also, I read somewhere that using filter foam is not recommended as it gets clog very easy, is that true? and how often do you have to clean the filter?

Thanks in advance
NGC

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11656587#post11656587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
Thanks!

What about the hole for the effluent out?
Do I need a smaller Forstner bit for that, or do they have 1/2" Jaco fittings?

That's 3/8" pipe threaded as well.

djfrankie

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11657386#post11657386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewbieGoneCrazy
Hi DjFrankie

I have a few questions in regard to sulphur filtration. I bought a fluidized Bed Filter, which I am going to use for a sulphur filtration. After reading your post, I realise that my filter does not have "degassing output", would that be a problem?

How would you get the gasses out then?

I plan to use only one chamber with 3 medias, which are RowaPhos, sulphur and aragonite. Could you please help me with the best arrangement for the medias from bottom to the top? Will that actually work?

I would just do the sulfur media in one reactor. Rowaphos exhausts rapidly (few weeks) when compared to sulfur media (over 2 years). Everytime you open the reactor to replace the media you will have to cycle it. Ideally you would have the aragontite too in a smaller reactor where it could be easily changed without disturbing the anaerobic bacteria inside the sulfur reactor.

Also, I read somewhere that using filter foam is not recommended as it gets clog very easy, is that true? and how often do you have to clean the filter?

Thanks in advance
NGC

I suppose it will depend on the foam. Major manufacturers use it inside calcium reactors and nitrate reactors with no problem.

HTH,
djfrankie

 

[siskiou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11657707#post11657707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
That's 3/8" pipe threaded as well.

djfrankie

Right, but does the hole itself get drilled with the 5/8" Forstner bit, too.

Or does it need to be smaller?

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11662996#post11662996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
Right, but does the hole itself get drilled with the 5/8" Forstner bit, too.

Or does it need to be smaller?

Sorry If I wasn't clear ..You will have to drill those holes 1/2" then thread them with the 3/8" pipe thread.

djfrankie

 

[asmodeus]

Well I got most of the stuff already , going to start building here really soon will let you know how it goes. wish me luck......

 

[djfrankie]

Hmmm....good luck ...LOL

djfrankie

 

[chicken]

asmodeus.... good luck. I am out in the garage right now doing some glue-ups so I'll update my thread here in a few hours with some progress pictures.

-Chris

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11664146#post11664146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chicken
asmodeus.... good luck. I am out in the garage right now doing some glue-ups so I'll update my thread here in a few hours with some progress pictures.

-Chris

Hey Chris,
nice to see you here.

:rollface:

djfrankie

 

[NewbieGoneCrazy]

How would you get the gasses out then?

Thanks DJFrankie for your advice, I will drill a small hole and attach an air tubing on the top of the reactor. Do you always have it open, or have it open once in a while to get the gas out? How often do you get the gas out?

I would just do the sulfur media in one reactor. Rowaphos exhausts rapidly (few weeks) when compared to sulfur media (over 2 years). Everytime you open the reactor to replace the media you will have to cycle it. Ideally you would have the aragontite too in a smaller reactor where it could be easily changed without disturbing the anaerobic bacteria inside the sulfur reactor.

I will place my RowaPhos in my canister filter. I am in a very tight budget at the moment. In the mean time, I can only afford one FBF, so I will use the reactor for sulfur and aragonite. How often do you have to replace the aragonite?

I suppose it will depend on the foam. Major manufacturers use it inside calcium reactors and nitrate reactors with no problem.

What foam brand do you recommend?

Thanks Mate for your help
NGC

 

[zachtos]

I have finished my sulphur denitrator. I have calculated around 1 gallon of sulphur media to be in the chamber. It is leak tested and is doing well. Recirculation provided by a mag3 (350gph). There is a media plate in the bottom w/ holes, and filter sponge material sandwhiching the media. I have enough room to add about another 10lbs (1 gallon or so of media). I am starting the cycle today at about 2-3 drops/second. Eventually I plan to up the flow substantially. Before it finishes cycling, the effluent will be run through a second 'chamber' of aragonite to raise the ph. I will basically run it through the container the genx large calcium reactor media comes through. No need to recirculate it. Also it's better to NEVER open the reactor once started, it kills the bacteria and causes a cycle to happen again. I'll show you my cheap and easy way on creating a second chamber for media later. I will report my results as well.

 

[xinumaster]

Can you share your formula for calculating how much sulfur media to use?

 

[zachtos]

I read somewhere to use 1% of total water volume as sulphur media if 50ppm nitrates or less and 1 to 5 liters/hour per liter of media used for a effluent flow rate (after the cycle completes).

I am using about 20% of my recommended media amount, I can bring that up, but I think my lower nitrates do not require that much sulphur or flow. I plan to run about 12L/hour flow or 3gph to achieve about 100% tank turnover/week, that falls in the paramaters given by the above formula for my 4L of media.

 

[notsofishy]

Hey I just started building one of these but im using a smaller cylinder for my media. So I was wondering if I could use the first cylinder for just sulfur media and drip the effluent into a seperate container with ARM media. There would be no recirculating pump in this chamber so the water would be fairly stagnant. Would this be a problem?

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11683394#post11683394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewbieGoneCrazy
Thanks DJFrankie for your advice, I will drill a small hole and attach an air tubing on the top of the reactor. Do you always have it open, or have it open once in a while to get the gas out? How often do you get the gas out?

I open it once a day when I feed the fish for about 5 seconds.

I will place my RowaPhos in my canister filter. I am in a very tight budget at the moment. In the mean time, I can only afford one FBF, so I will use the reactor for sulfur and aragonite. How often do you have to replace the aragonite?

I haven't had to replace it yet.

What foam brand do you recommend?

I buy the blue disks from Hagen and cut them to size.

Thanks Mate for your help
NGC

You're very welcome!