DIY Sulfur Denitrator

Correction:

The Calcium (agnate side) is down-flow...The side with the mag-3 on it...Sorry for any confusion...

Also here is my media

1.5 liter sulfur balls (Premium Aquatics)
2 liters Seachem Matrix

9 pounds of Gen-X Calcium agnate (Premium Aquatics)

Terry
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14563139#post14563139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltydog64
after removing bleach what did you do...like about how much rinising,etc and did you treat for "clorine residue" from the bleach...just curious.. :rollface: :rollface:
Click to expand...

I rinsed several times, and then added declorinator to the water and let the circulation pump run for a couple of hours, then emptied and did the same thing again, just for good measure.
After that, I let it air dry over night.
 
O: The agony of it all; Have had the unit online for a little over 24 hours now, only have to wait 48 more for the first round…Then test and if all is well up the flow to 2 dps…This reminds me of my 21 years in the Army hurry up and wait…
:lol: :rollface: :lol:
Let me see what is that saying; O yaa:
Patience is a virtue…

And

THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENS IN A REEF SYSTEM QUICKLY IS A CRASH…
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14573358#post14573358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The_Browns
What brand of sulfur does everyone use?
Click to expand...

The 2 that I have seen the most here are:

1. High Purity Sulfur Pearls: available from Midwest Aquatic and Premium Aquatics, there may be others that have it as well just the 2 places that I know of from this thread.

2. CarbSea L.S.M.: available from many locations.

Both of the above are seeded, meaning that they should cycle quicker…As I have just started my unit, I’m hoping for the quicker cycle…

There are some other Sulfur Medias that have been used but I have not tracked results on those as when I first decided to build my dj-denitrator I made the decision to use the High Purity Sulfur Pearls that djfrankie used…I personally can’t say what is the best to use…

Terry
 
I'm using the CaribSea LSM, and while some people apparently had problems with it (slime build-up, turning to mush), it worked well for me.
It was still intact, even after sitting in the offline reactor for months.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14573591#post14573591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
I'm using the CaribSea LSM, and while some people apparently had problems with it (slime build-up, turning to mush), it worked well for me.
It was still intact, even after sitting in the offline reactor for months.
Click to expand...

siskiou

Quick question: Did you trap your LSM between 2 sponge filters with Matrix and or Aganite on top? This would keep the LSM from tumbling...

Terry
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14566487#post14566487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
I rinsed several times, and then added declorinator to the water and let the circulation pump run for a couple of hours, then emptied and did the same thing again, just for good measure.
After that, I let it air dry over night.
Click to expand...

sis..........

Excellant..........as that is exactly what I did today and yep got it running this late afternoon.............here we go again count'n drops:mixed: :mixed:, at least for awhile, oh well nothing good is instant in this hobby for sure, good luck to you girl !!!!

Dick
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14566487#post14566487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by siskiou
I rinsed several times, and then added declorinator to the water and let the circulation pump run for a couple of hours, then emptied and did the same thing again, just for good measure.
After that, I let it air dry over night.
Click to expand...

sis..........

Excellant..........as that is exactly what I did today and yep got it running this late afternoon.............here we go again count'n drops:mixed: :mixed:, at least for awhile, oh well nothing good is instant in this hobby for sure, good luck to you girl !!!!

Dick
 
48 hours at 1 dps…Just tested Nitrates and Nitrites…Salifer…Couldn’t help myself had to test it just to see…Helps me to remain calm and not get in a hurry.

Nitrites:
Tank: 0 ppm
Reactor: 0 ppm
:D

Nitrates:
Tank: No change as expected 30 ppm
Reactor: Just the slightest tint of Orange less than 5 ppm but more than 0 ppm
:D

24 hours to go and should be able to up to 2 dps then another 3 days… :cool:
 
ok, so I have read just about the entire thread and I was wondering if there is a simple write up on how to set up the unit? Like how long to wait, setting up your dips, ext.......
 
If readings are at zero for the effluent, is it safe to increase flow or is there some other reason to wait 3 days before increasing?

I ask because I seemed to crash my reactor. It worked fine as I slowly increased the flow, each time waiting for readings to zero. This happened in approximately 1 day as I increased flow about 25% each time. Then suddenly it would not zero after 3 days. I reduced flow to the previous setting & it still would not zero after waiting a few more days. My flow was not that high, so I'm wondering where I went wrong.

Started over & it is working again, but afraid to repeat the same mistake.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14583481#post14583481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lonnie
If readings are at zero for the effluent, is it safe to increase flow or is there some other reason to wait 3 days before increasing?

I ask because I seemed to crash my reactor. It worked fine as I slowly increased the flow, each time waiting for readings to zero. This happened in approximately 1 day as I increased flow about 25% each time. Then suddenly it would not zero after 3 days. I reduced flow to the previous setting & it still would not zero after waiting a few more days. My flow was not that high, so I'm wondering where I went wrong.

Started over & it is working again, but afraid to repeat the same mistake.
Click to expand...

Please let us know:

Tank water volume
Nitrate levels in the tank
Recirculating unit?
How much and what type of media are u using?

djfrankie
 
Lonnie, mine did the same thing... As soon as I'd touch the effluent, it would crash and cycle all over again. Still not 100% sure, although I re-read the article (for the 100th time) and I missed two small items.

1. I didn't let the tank water flow through for 12-24 hours when I first set it up.

2. I didn't put a pad on TOP of the media (I wasn't using ARM, so I let it open)

Since my NO3 is now about 2ppm, I decided to add some ARM - my reactor was producing >5ppm nitrites, so it was a good time to mess with it. When I opened the unit, I found some mushy sulfer on the outlet and on top of the media. I put in another pad, and about 2 cups of ARM on top. I reconnected everything and let all the sediment flow out (took about 5 gallons of saltwater before it was coming out clear).

As a result, I have a small leak in the lid that I patched with some reef epoxy. I set the drip rate and the unit fully cycled in about 36 hours - it's NEVER cycled that fast. I'm holding steady at 1dps for a few days, but I'm feeling good about it this time.
 
Even with a calcium reactor and kalk dtripping, I find it necessary to add some bicarbonate every other day.I sup[pose I could calculate the amount I'm using and set up a dosing system via drip or peri pump.
 
New Nitrate theory . ;)


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1593453&perpage=25&pagenumber=1



:thumbsup:


http://www.instantocean.com/uploade...nowledge/SeaScope/Past/SS_Vol23_Fall_2007.pdf





nitrocycle.gif





:wavehand:






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