skippyreef
New member
Ok the NItrate went up just a little coming out of the reactor. I have 3.5 ppunds of media for a little over 300 gallons. I have crushed coral on the top. Can I take out some of teh CC and add in more sulfur?
DIY Sulfur Denitrator
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Give it a day or two to catch up, every time you increase the flow rate out of the reactor.
eventually you find the sweet spot for the flow, & have to back it off slightly.
I believe that you have enough sulfur in the reactor, & in the future when you zero out, it will be necessary to remove some of it.
I have found that my corals & clams, do enjoy a slight NO3 level (<5ppm)
Steve
:smokin:
skippyreef
New member
Does the flow spot change over time as the bacteria population inside the reactor changes? Is it increaseing now due to avaialble food source (nitrate) and will be able to process more efficiently as it matures over teh coming weeks allowing for an increase in flow through or does it max out early?
Yes the flow spot will change due to the available nitrate in the water & the amount of sulfur processing it. you will come to a flow rate that will level it out. It is suggested that you do not exceed more than 5x the recommended rate of flow per amount of media.
1 liter (33.8 oz.) media = 1 liter of flow per hour, so 5 liter's of flow is max for 1 liter of media.
Steve
:smokin:
skippyreef
New member
I am going to add another pound of sulfur to the reactor fro more efficient processing then. That way I can be close to runing 2.5 gallons an hour through it which would be just under five liters an hours for a little over 2 liters of media.
Black71gp
New member
wow these things really do drop the alk in a tank!!!!! I always had issues with high alk around 16 or so.. had my calcium reactor set up with a fast flow so low alk coming out... but then this thing has droped it like crazy.. down to like 9... so time to balance out the denitrator and calcium reactor again..lol.. love nitrates are down around 15 in my tank now...
skippyreef
New member
How much media do you have in your reactor Jarrod and what is the drip rate?
Black71gp
New member
um.. not sure on amount i had it figured out but i forget..lol.. around 4 liters total witht he bio matrix..... I have a nice steady stream running out of it.. i should see exactly how much.. it is just back up and running though.. i had a small leak and it was driving me nuts trying to set it in.. so i fixed it last night and got it running again.. will wait a few days and test again and see what kinda flow i have.. and maybe up it some more
sailfintang
Member
I have been reading through the begining of this thread. I am contemplating between one of these, a coil denitrator or a RDSB. Have not decided been reading the threads equally. Thius seems to be the quickest resulting option but there is some things I do not understand.
1. Is the MJ for recirc of the water in the denitrator or does it suck water in from the "T" fitting below it into the chamber circulate the water and then exit from the the side (effluent).
2. Does the media ever need to be replaced, sulfur, ARM
3. How much media would I need for a 80 gallon volume (sulfur and ARM)?
4. Would I be able to use a quiet one pump instead of a maxi? The pump is rated at 296gpg.
I apologize if these questions ahve been answered still reading from way before the split.
Thanks for any assistance.
1. Is the MJ for recirc of the water in the denitrator or does it suck water in from the "T" fitting below it into the chamber circulate the water and then exit from the the side (effluent).
2. Does the media ever need to be replaced, sulfur, ARM
3. How much media would I need for a 80 gallon volume (sulfur and ARM)?
4. Would I be able to use a quiet one pump instead of a maxi? The pump is rated at 296gpg.
I apologize if these questions ahve been answered still reading from way before the split.
Thanks for any assistance.
Last edited:
wizsmaster
Moved On
20 ml = 10sec
120 ml = 60sec/1min
7200 ml = 60min/1hr
7200 ml = 7.2 l
7.2 l = 1.90203878 US gallon
120 ml = 60sec/1min
7200 ml = 60min/1hr
7200 ml = 7.2 l
7.2 l = 1.90203878 US gallon
thanks might run a few more days might up it.. might not.. seems to work well as it is now.. i have a small leak that is giving me issues still but overall very very VERY happy with this unit..
wizsmaster
Moved On
I've had my unit off for a while now ... probably close to 2 months. My nitrates have crept back up to around 10 as of a few days ago. I will most likely put this unit back into service, but reduce the amount of sulfur in it. And add a second chamber for the aragonite. I am also dosing kalk water ... i'm hoping that I will be able to keep the ph/dKH up this way.
wizsmaster
Moved On
I've had my unit off for a while now ... probably close to 2 months. My nitrates have crept back up to around 10 as of a few days ago. I will most likely put this unit back into service, but reduce the amount of sulfer in it. And add a second chamber for the aragonite. I am also dosing kalk water ... i'm hoping that I will be able to keep the ph/dKH up this way.
skippyreef
New member
I need to add more sulfur to my unit. I am dripping 20ml/min right now and anything above that and I start testing positive. I ordered a pound from Midwest last week to aff to the 3.5 pounds I have in the unit now. I think I will just add another chamber for aragonite as well and fill the main one all teh way up. it is
5" * 18" (I bought one from midwest because I could not get mine to stop leaking at the uniseals). The unit came with 3.5 pounds of sulfur but I think my tank is a little under sized for that one (though I thought it would work) and the big one rated for 500 gallons comes with 5 pounds of media. So I am adding another pound to make mine 4.5 pounds. I think I can adapt a phosban reactor to carry the aragonite without it being a big deal.
5" * 18" (I bought one from midwest because I could not get mine to stop leaking at the uniseals). The unit came with 3.5 pounds of sulfur but I think my tank is a little under sized for that one (though I thought it would work) and the big one rated for 500 gallons comes with 5 pounds of media. So I am adding another pound to make mine 4.5 pounds. I think I can adapt a phosban reactor to carry the aragonite without it being a big deal.
djfrankie
In Memoriam
1. Just to recirculate.
2. The media will last anywhere between 2-3 years. Arm will need to be topped off.
3. Refer to guidelines.
4. Probably. It will be wise to add a valve in there in case you need to reduce the flow.
You'll see guidelines on page 14 before the split and also page 1 after the split.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
djfrankie
sailfintang
Member
djfrankie,
Thanks for the answers I also found those guidelines and the media info, lots to read through here. A few extra questions about the process.
1. If I dont have another pump to T-off for the reactor could I go ahead and use another pump to feed the denitrator from my sump and just buy a maxi for recirc purposes?
2. Is it beeter to run just the sulfur media with seachem matrix or de*nitrate along with it and have the effluent drain into A.R.M. media for buffering before returning to the sump or putting the ARM media on top of the sulfur like the original design?
3. Is there anything stornger we could use to raise the buffering capacity so out ALK/PH is not affected to much?
Thanks
Thanks for the answers I also found those guidelines and the media info, lots to read through here. A few extra questions about the process.
1. If I dont have another pump to T-off for the reactor could I go ahead and use another pump to feed the denitrator from my sump and just buy a maxi for recirc purposes?
2. Is it beeter to run just the sulfur media with seachem matrix or de*nitrate along with it and have the effluent drain into A.R.M. media for buffering before returning to the sump or putting the ARM media on top of the sulfur like the original design?
3. Is there anything stornger we could use to raise the buffering capacity so out ALK/PH is not affected to much?
Thanks
djfrankie
In Memoriam
1. You should be able to T off your main pump. Otherwise, get a maxijet 900 to recirculate and a 1200 to feed.
2. Matrix is a better option since it can harbour a higher density of bacteria per liter. ARM could be used either way...it's really up to you.
3. As your flow rate goes up and the unit starts processing high levels of nitrate your Alk levels will drop. That's just the nature of the beast. I use Seachem's Reef Builder to bring Alk levels up. It takes less powder to get me where I need to be than other methods or chemicals.
You're welcome.
djfrankie
sailfintang
Member
For me to T off my main pump will require some additional plumbing to be altered on my return.
If I plumb off the return do I only need a 1/4 run off from my return to the input on the sulfur denitrator since the inlet ia 1/4 JG valve on the denitrator. I guess it would also be wise to add another shutoff valve on that line as well so I can remove the sulfur reactor for maintenance and what ever.
Thanks again for the answers. I am continuing the read this is a great thread. Lots of different designs and concepts to how to run with this thing.
If I plumb off the return do I only need a 1/4 run off from my return to the input on the sulfur denitrator since the inlet ia 1/4 JG valve on the denitrator. I guess it would also be wise to add another shutoff valve on that line as well so I can remove the sulfur reactor for maintenance and what ever.
Thanks again for the answers. I am continuing the read this is a great thread. Lots of different designs and concepts to how to run with this thing.
