DIY Sulfur Denitrator

[bawla47]

well after about a week or so, i think more, its working like it should, but 1 day i came home to a cloudy tank!

the denitrators at about 5-6 drops per second. 0 nitrates out of it. any idea whats wrong? water inside the chamber is milky white. whats weird too is ive never had to bleed any gas out of this thing. i used mouse pad material as a gasket, wonder if it actually lets just air out? i dunno.

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12003109#post12003109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bawla47
well after about a week or so, i think more, its working like it should, but 1 day i came home to a cloudy tank!

the denitrators at about 5-6 drops per second. 0 nitrates out of it. any idea whats wrong? water inside the chamber is milky white. whats weird too is ive never had to bleed any gas out of this thing. i used mouse pad material as a gasket, wonder if it actually lets just air out? i dunno.

What are your tank's water parameters:

Ca, Alk, Mg

The white stuff that grows inside is bacteria and is normal. The cloudiness in your tank may be calcium precipitation if any of the above levels are out of whack.

Here are a couple of threads of people that were having similar issues:

http://www.midwestaquatic.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=93

http://www.midwestaquatic.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=254

You'd hardly get any sulfide build up at that drop rate.

Please post your results here.

HTH,

djfrankie

 

[bawla47]

alk 10, calc 410 (salifert) didnt check mag. that was my first thought as well was way high calc, bcause i havent been testing it only alk and that managed to stay perfect. runing kalk and a calcium reactor.

so i thought my alk evap was replenished, but the calcium went through the roof.

i started with 1 drop per second till i got 0 out the reactor, then ramped it up 1 drop every day checking and making sure i still got 0.



its not white film in the reactor, the actual water inside is milk colored, slightly more transparent. i bled the water out at full force and got the water clear again and put the drip the same again.

 

[bawla47]

i will test my magnesium tomorrow, have a salifert kit, and see where its at. i know for sure its prob low. maybe thats my problem!

 

[bawla47]

found my test kit, 11-2007

i prob used it like 4-5x and the kits good for 50 tests!

 

[melev]

So test the water. Hurry!

 

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12004262#post12004262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bawla47
found my test kit, 11-2007

i prob used it like 4-5x and the kits good for 50 tests!

I would use it anyways and see what it reads.

Now we all know you haven't kept up with your testing

djfrankie

 

[Paul_PSU]

For Nitrates, my effluent is still at Zero and (drum roll please)...my tank is at Zero! I tested late last night. I tested the PH this morning and it is 8.0 and Alk is at the low range around 1.6. I dosed with the Kent Superbuffer. I will test the Alk tonight and PH tomorrow.

Paul

 

[Paul_PSU]

WOO HOO! just noticed......

<------100 posts!

I guess this makes it 101

 

[MYDRAAL]

Just did a test on mine and it's reading 0 nitrates Tank is slowly coming down to. Still have to check and adjust flow rate until everything is running at optimal, but man to see the results after only running this thing for 5 days is sweet Thanks for the thread, this is great to see results form everyone.:rollface:

 

[saltydog64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12003109#post12003109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bawla47
well after about a week or so, i think more, its working like it should, but 1 day i came home to a cloudy tank!

the denitrators at about 5-6 drops per second. 0 nitrates out of it. any idea whats wrong? water inside the chamber is milky white. whats weird too is ive never had to bleed any gas out of this thing. i used mouse pad material as a gasket, wonder if it actually lets just air out? i dunno.

ba47- Just read this, sorry I'm late...just one ??? Prior to setting this up did you or where you dosing with sugar or other carbon source ?? just a thought.

Hope you get it because this method WORKS, I'll post my update soon.

Dick

 

[saltydog64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12005648#post12005648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
For Nitrates, my effluent is still at Zero and (drum roll please)...my tank is at Zero! I tested late last night. I tested the PH this morning and it is 8.0 and Alk is at the low range around 1.6. I dosed with the Kent Superbuffer. I will test the Alk tonight and PH tomorrow.

Paul

Paul- All righty now GOOD JOB !!!! As I have (except for the sulfur) the same basic setup as yours, could you tell me how you set the flow rate, do you check it out of the CA reactor ? and with what valve do you use control the flow rate, the input or effluent ???

Once again nice job !!!!

 

[Paul_PSU]

I check the effluent out of the ARM reactor. I made a clip out of acrylic with a couple of holes drilled in it and when I open my stand door it's right there dripping into the return chamber of the sump. I used the compression fittings from home depot. With the initial drip rate I just basically counted out at 1 drop per sec. When I start increasing the flow in a couple days I'll use a measuring cup to make sure I get the correct flow. I will be increasing it to 2 drops per sec after 3 days of zero Nitrates out of reactor and in tank. After that I'll keeping bumping it up daily till I get the recommended flow. I'll post the Alk results tonight and the PH again tomorrow after adding the kent buffer this morning.

My reading didn't move at all for over 8 days and then BAM! they just came down over 3 days.

Paul

 

[saltydog64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12008887#post12008887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
I check the effluent out of the ARM reactor. I made a clip out of acrylic with a couple of holes drilled in it and when I open my stand door it's right there dripping into the return chamber of the sump. I used the compression fittings from home depot. With the initial drip rate I just basically counted out at 1 drop per sec. When I start increasing the flow in a couple days I'll use a measuring cup to make sure I get the correct flow. I will be increasing it to 2 drops per sec after 3 days of zero Nitrates out of reactor and in tank. After that I'll keeping bumping it up daily till I get the recommended flow. I'll post the Alk results tonight and the PH again tomorrow after adding the kent buffer this morning.

My reading didn't move at all for over 8 days and then BAM! they just came down over 3 days.

Paul

Paul----Your right it is unbelievable how fast it can change, but do you remember when you cycled your first tank....BAM all of sudden no Nitrites....I have followed your progess since u started yours on 02/22/08 "w/Nitrates off the charts" or +100ppm and we or u kept wondering whats the hold up so to speak..u know the I think it's the "high Nitrates" that we start with and not so much which sulfur we use. Having just said that I'm awaiting a shipment of the larger beaded media(just in case my LSM craps out)
One last thing which valve do u use to control the flow rate??

In setup some unbelievable things have happen in the last 48 hours, but I'm post these ASAP !!!

Continued GOOD LUCK

Dick

 

[uncleant]

i am starting mine now and i am using 1/2'' pvc pipe for the feed pump. Can some one tell te what size hole to drill in the 4'' pvc pipe so that the 1/2'' goes into it. i already tried 5/8'' and 3/4 and there both two small. Thanks

 

[Steve 926]

Hello To All

Is anyone using this reactor & a calcium reactor together, or a Kalk. top off with one ?

What results are you experiencing with the calcium, Ph, & or Alk levels. ?


Thanks for a reply

Steve


:smokin:

 

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11993971#post11993971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
Konadog,

I believe someone posted a while back the gallon from Caribsea LSM was equivalent to the 3.5 liters. I will call them tomorrow and find out for sure how many liters come in that container.

If someone has that info please post it.

djfrankie, did you ever find out how much is in the container?
If not, I don't see why I can't use the whole thing, do you?

 

[reefrubble]

Check out the reactors in this RC Reef Club forum
ANCHOR (Aquarists of the Nature Coast Helping Other Reefers) > Reactor pics

 

[khoivo1]

5/8

5/8

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12010488#post12010488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleant
i am starting mine now and i am using 1/2'' pvc pipe for the feed pump. Can some one tell te what size hole to drill in the 4'' pvc pipe so that the 1/2'' goes into it. i already tried 5/8'' and 3/4 and there both two small. Thanks

 

[khoivo1]

5/8

5/8

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12010488#post12010488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uncleant
i am starting mine now and i am using 1/2'' pvc pipe for the feed pump. Can some one tell te what size hole to drill in the 4'' pvc pipe so that the 1/2'' goes into it. i already tried 5/8'' and 3/4 and there both two small. Thanks