AcroporAddict
There is no substitute.
Online sources, like Premium Aquatics, have the LSM weight at 9.5-10 pounds on their websites, but not on the product label, like Tom said.
DIY Sulfur Denitrator
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Just received the calcium media from carib sea. Definitely 10 lb container. Still waiting on sulfur media and 6 inch pvc to arrive.
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Ok my reactor is ready to go online. Can someone explain to me the proper process for the first few days.
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Anyone?
Mine has been up and running for four days now. I'm getting zero nitrates from the output! I had mine set for one drop a second for the first three days. This evening I bumped it up to about 2 drops a second and will test it again in the morning. I cycled it using the gas vent as the output so it wouldn't build up gas. The valve didn't plug up on me. Tonight I switched it from the gas vent to the normal output.
AcroporAddict
There is no substitute.
That sounds good. I pulled the calcium media from my 4.5 gallon capacity denitrator and replaced it with sulfur media, so now I am running a true 1% of system volume sulfur volume (4.5 gallons, 1% of 450 net gallons). I thought I would add the alkalinity the denitrator effluent consumes from my calcium reactor, but my alkalinity has dipped a bit low for my liking. So, I am adding a large media reactor filled with calcareous media after the denitrator to add alkalinity to the effluent before it hits the sump. Running about 300 ml/minute through it now.
Belgian Anthias
New member
fluidized reactors
fluidized reactors
When the media in the reactor is fluidized any container that can be closed air tight will do. A big lid will make it easy accessible for construction and maintenance. The build can be the same as for the denitrator.
fluidized reactors
When the media in the reactor is fluidized any container that can be closed air tight will do. A big lid will make it easy accessible for construction and maintenance. The build can be the same as for the denitrator.
Belgian Anthias
New member
The reactor is running at +- 18l/h or +- 4,5 gal/h which is a normal rate. At high nitrate levels this reactor is reducing a lot of nitrate every day. When the flow is kept this way, assuming effluent has 0 nitrate, at some point the level of nitrate in the aqua will not drop any more. Do not decrease the flow at that moment!! Measuring the nitrate level and multiplying it with the daily flow will give the daily produced nitrate in the system. To remove more than the daily amount, flow must be increased and follow the level of nitrate in the system. Do this with small increments and wait for the reactor to respond and find its balance again. It may take a few days. Reducing high levels of nitrate to very low levels needs some patience. To reduce the level from 20ppm to 10 ppm flow must be doubled. One does not do this in one step. When flow is increased each time with 10% it may take 20 to 60 days to accomplish this. Remember, it is the quantity of oxygen which must be removed, the quantity of nitrate to remove stays the same.
Hi DIY Sulfur Denitator crew! I has hoping to get you input on converting a old calcium reactor to a denitator. I have around 700 gallons with ~ 40 ppm nitrate to work with. My intention is to pull the nitrate down a long ways and then maintain with carbon dosing, current theory at least.
Pics below, few questions:
- Does it matter which way the circulation goes in the reactor? Does that answer change is using a secondary media (Carbiasea ARM) for bacteria surface? With the reactor size and my water volume I'm not sure if I'll have room for secondary media or not.
- Does the unit really need to be "air tight" with a degassing value operated daily? Premise of the question is I lost the o-ring for the reactor I'm thinking of using, I could just make one out of silicone. Secondly there is no degassing port so to speak, I can add/tap one in if needed.
Thoughts on current plan:
- Get a Mj 1200 modded into work at the circulation pump, likely have the output to the bottom of the reactor. Loose the CO2 input and run the reactor feed from external port into the Mj's output basically as the reactor is setup now. (I have the orginal Ehiem pump for this, just using for my ATO right now, can use if needed). This is the question of does which way the flow inside the reactor is all about.
- Fill it up with likely a entire gallon of Carbasea LSM media
- use the existing output/drip plumbing from the top of the reactor as the effluent output of the reactor. (of if gas exits here too?)
- get some Carbisea ARM media in there is possible
- start really slow flow (1 drip/second) and then work up tot he 3-4 liters/hour/liter of media
Pics below, few questions:
- Does it matter which way the circulation goes in the reactor? Does that answer change is using a secondary media (Carbiasea ARM) for bacteria surface? With the reactor size and my water volume I'm not sure if I'll have room for secondary media or not.
- Does the unit really need to be "air tight" with a degassing value operated daily? Premise of the question is I lost the o-ring for the reactor I'm thinking of using, I could just make one out of silicone. Secondly there is no degassing port so to speak, I can add/tap one in if needed.
Thoughts on current plan:
- Get a Mj 1200 modded into work at the circulation pump, likely have the output to the bottom of the reactor. Loose the CO2 input and run the reactor feed from external port into the Mj's output basically as the reactor is setup now. (I have the orginal Ehiem pump for this, just using for my ATO right now, can use if needed). This is the question of does which way the flow inside the reactor is all about.
- Fill it up with likely a entire gallon of Carbasea LSM media
- use the existing output/drip plumbing from the top of the reactor as the effluent output of the reactor. (of if gas exits here too?)
- get some Carbisea ARM media in there is possible
- start really slow flow (1 drip/second) and then work up tot he 3-4 liters/hour/liter of media
Belgian Anthias
New member
You are going to do the effort making a sulfur denitrator to lower the nitrate level and when it has done the job replace it by VODKA. Why?
1 Gal of sulfur is not sufficient for a 700 gal system. Any idea of your current daily nitrate build up?
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
I use 1 gallon jug of each on a 175 gallon system.
Thinking was carbon dosing was easier and less risky in the long run. Not opposed to sulfur reactors for the long term, just nervous about them in general for the long run.
Sizing was based on the DIY Reefkeeping model of .006 x system volume = liters recommended. This comes out to about 4.2 liters or 1.1 gallons. No idea if their sizing is accurate, I'm getting the impression it's not so much.
I'll fill the K2R reactor with media, converting this was almost too simple. I've got a pair of BRS reactors I'll fill with ARM (large) media to help out the pH on the output.
Belgian Anthias
New member
To determine how much sulfur media you need, you should multiply your total system gallons x .006. For example:
120 gallon system x .006 = .72 liters of media or about ¾ of a liter.
I have no idea where Frank Aguilar gets this quotation from. Anyway, it is not correct. He reference to Langouet M who used and advises 1% reactors.
For example: When a flow of 4l/h/l sulfur can be maintained at a level of 2ppm nitrate the reactor will be able to remove max 3.8l x 4l/h x 24h x 2mg/l = 729.6 mg nitrate/ day or prevent a daily nitrate build up of max 0.36ppm in a 700 gal system.
To know sulfur will be sufficient you have to estimate your daily nitrate production which in this case should not be higher as +-0.25ppm/day for easy management.
If you have no intention to correct the system input I advice to use a 1% reactor which will solve your nitrate problem for many years and keep the level at 2ppm or less.
Once the sulfur reactor is in line and the desired level of nitrate is reached the reactor will keep your levels low with no effort at all. Why change to a system that needs daily attention and management?
Belgian Anthias
New member
What would be the risk using a sulfur de nitrator in the long run? Did you compare the risks of carbon dosing?
As at my knowledge the risks( for aqua live) using a fluidized sulfur denitrator as part of the system are nihil. I can not say the same for carbon based denitration methods. I never used carbon based denitrators but it seems very complicated dosing the carbon or correcting the flow and not easy to manage.
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
What does it mean if I'm not getting any gas build up in the reactor daily like I was the first week and a half?
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
Anyone?
BROTHERSPIZZERIA
New member
I am up to 4 or 5 drops per second with 0 nitrate effluent. Tank nitrates are still climbing. Where do I go from here??
Approximately 175 gallon volume. Using 1 full gallon of l.s.m. sulfur and 1 full gallon of a.r.m. media.
Approximately 175 gallon volume. Using 1 full gallon of l.s.m. sulfur and 1 full gallon of a.r.m. media.
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