DIY Sulfur Denitrator

[zachtos]

You know what I just realized? I have been having to turn my calcium reactor way down lately on my 500G system because the effluent of the sulphur reactor through the calcium chamber is raising my ca/alk! I have dropped my flow from a steady slow stream to a slow drip now.

I'm still confused as to be sure if just because I'm getting a low ph out of the effluent, if that can be a determining factor as to if the device is working? It's hard to tell when the nitrates are down to close to 0 other then by checking the effluent's ph and smell.

 

[asmodeus]

well I tested my nitrates on the tnak with my test kit and the Nitrates are at 40PPm so the reactor has been going since this morning. the question that i have Frankie is how my media should I use. in the reactor that i have built.
the tank is 120 gal with 3 " sand bed, and a 75 gal sump with approx 50 gals worth. so the total gal is around 170 gal ith Nitrates at 40PPM. I have the drip in set at 1 drip every second.

i believe the media has around 6" in there. I didn't want to add to much how much did you put in.

 

[asmodeus]

hey Frankie I checked my reactor out because i was curious of why the top was cloudy my friend has a sulphur reactor, and his chamber is clear, and the water in the chamber is to the top mind wasnt, so i took it apart to see and the sulphur media was mush, why is that.... does the water have to be to the top of the reactor, because mine isnt.

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11857273#post11857273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asmodeus
well I tested my nitrates on the tnak with my test kit and the Nitrates are at 40PPm so the reactor has been going since this morning. the question that i have Frankie is how my media should I use. in the reactor that i have built.
the tank is 120 gal with 3 " sand bed, and a 75 gal sump with approx 50 gals worth. so the total gal is around 170 gal ith Nitrates at 40PPM. I have the drip in set at 1 drip every second.

i believe the media has around 6" in there. I didn't want to add to much how much did you put in.

I sent you my number so you can call me.

djfrankie

 

[Paul_PSU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11859271#post11859271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asmodeus
hey Frankie I checked my reactor out because i was curious of why the top was cloudy my friend has a sulphur reactor, and his chamber is clear, and the water in the chamber is to the top mind wasnt, so i took it apart to see and the sulphur media was mush, why is that.... does the water have to be to the top of the reactor, because mine isnt.

asmodeus,
I got my initial batch from a hydroponics place and the media looked just like that (split pea sized) and kept floating on me and getting sucked in and circulated to the bottom. i just placed an order for this http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...Product_Code=MA-HPS35&Category_Code=denitrate and will have it Tuesday.

I'm recharging my camera battery now. I'll take a picture of the media I have now and also a pic of my tank as it is now :eek2:

 

[saltydog64]

LSM sulfur ????

LSM sulfur ????

HI guys and girls

What is up with this product...??? I believe "asmodes" stated it turned to mush:mad2: I ordered some from MarineDepot you wouldn't think they would junk !!! I have NOT setup yet and I now I am worried...should I be ???

THX for advice

Dick

 

[djfrankie]

Re: LSM sulfur ????

Re: LSM sulfur ????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11864059#post11864059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltydog64
HI guys and girls

What is up with this product...??? I believe "asmodes" stated it turned to mush:mad2: I ordered some from MarineDepot you wouldn't think they would junk !!! I have NOT setup yet and I now I am worried...should I be ???

THX for advice

Dick

We're trying to pinpoint the issue with the Caribsea media turning to mush. We'll let you guys know what happens in a couple of days or so.

djfrankie

 

[saltydog64]

Re: Re: LSM sulfur ????

Re: Re: LSM sulfur ????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11864354#post11864354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
We're trying to pinpoint the issue with the Caribsea media turning to mush. We'll let you guys know what happens in a couple of days or so.

djfrankie

Dj-thx for your fast reply...by the way THANK YOU for all your efforts on this thread..:rollface: much appreciated !!!!

We await your update..

Dick

 

[djfrankie]

Re: Re: Re: LSM sulfur ????

Re: Re: Re: LSM sulfur ????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11864491#post11864491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltydog64
Dj-thx for your fast reply...by the way THANK YOU for all your efforts on this thread..:rollface: much appreciated !!!!

We await your update..

Dick

Appreciate your comments!

djfrankie

 

[asmodeus]

So Frankie I have had the reactor going ful bore for 4 hours then i dropped the drip rate to 1 drip every 1 second. how long should i wait til i will test for nitrates that is coming out of the reactor out put. and after talking to you last night, i took out the cap that i made for the top of the media and left it open so the media would hopfully turn over more and there is no pre filter sponge on the top of the media. there is the blue one on the bottom thou.

my nitrates are at 40PPm

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11864504#post11864504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asmodeus
So Frankie I have had the reactor going ful bore for 4 hours then i dropped the drip rate to 1 drip every 1 second. how long should i wait til i will test for nitrates that is coming out of the reactor out put. and after talking to you last night, i took out the cap that i made for the top of the media and left it open so the media would hopfully turn over more and there is no pre filter sponge on the top of the media. there is the blue one on the bottom thou.

my nitrates are at 40PPm

Check after 3 days.

djfrankie

 

[Paul_PSU]

Ok, so here is the crappy split pea sized media I tried first(pic is blurry but couldn't get a good close up). Like I stated before, it keeps floating and gets sucked through the circulating pump to the bottom I'll have the proper media from Premium Aquatics on Tuesday. I also have a pic of my tank now so you can watch it go from disaster to full blown reef.

 

[saltydog64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11865499#post11865499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
Ok, so here is the crappy split pea sized media I tried first(pic is blurry but couldn't get a good close up). Like I stated before, it keeps floating and gets sucked through the circulating pump to the bottom I'll have the proper media from Premium Aquatics on Tuesday. I also have a pic of my tank now so you can watch it go from disaster to full blown reef.

Hi Paul-THX for the post... some good news, I should think, as it looks like you have lots of corallines any way, a BIG leg up on me :mixed: Now remined me...what's this media??? where did you get it....??

finally good luck on this project as I know you will get it..

Dick

 

[Paul_PSU]

Dick,
The media I got was from a hydroponics site. Zachtos purchased some online and it was the bigger size media. I went to the same site and it was on back order. I found another hydro site and the media looked the same size in the picture and I didnt want to wait another week for the back order to come in so I ordered it. When I opened it, it was split pea sized, but I tried it anyways being the dumb@$$ that I am. :eek2:

My nitrates in my tank are at 50 now ( they were at 100 until I did 2 25% water changes) and I finally got my phosphates down to 0ppm so I gues one step at a time. I have some maroon algae on the top rocks and brown on the back. Hopefully when I get my nitrates down, my fuge will take care of the algae. I'll post a pic tomorrrow of my refugium.

 

[djfrankie]

Paul ,
is that cyano on the left side of the tank all over the top rocks?

djfrankie

 

[Paul_PSU]

Frankie, unfortunately yes

 

[Paul_PSU]

I know my nitrates of way too high, but it seemed like the maroon on the top of the rocks got worse when I switched from pc lighting (4 X65w) to MH lighting (2 X 250W 14k). I only keep the lights on about 8 hours a day. This past two days I have even cut it down to 4 hours.

 

[djfrankie]

Paul, I don't want to stray from the topic of this thread too much here.

Have you tried Chemi-Clean?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~medications_boyd_chemiclean.html

I've tried it in the past and it works great!

Some people also recommend shutting the lights off for a couple of days and let it subdue.

I've found the chemical method more satistying in the long run.

Anyways, good luck with it and hope to see you get rid of it in the near future.

It seems this type of algae doesn't require much to survive.

djfrankie

 

[Paul_PSU]

Frankie,
I have not tried that. I was going to order a couple things off of there anyways so I will throw that on the order too. I am going to do a blackout also until it arrives also. I don't have any corals yet only the one fish so he'll probably think it's an eclipse or something . Thanks for the recommendation! You da man!

 

[djfrankie]

Paul,

Make sure you get rid of any issues with the tank before you start putting corals in. Now is your opportunity to do so.

Post some pics after you do the treatment. You will be surprised

djfrankie