CHSUB
"Certified Hobby Expert"
Small reactors do work! They can reduce and remove nitrate. What I am talking about is a denitrator system that has the capacity to close the nitrogen cycle completely so it must be able to control the nitrate level at the level you desire at high daily production of nitrate. The denitrationsystem must be matched with the aquariumsystem in a way to make this possible.
This is not possible with other denitration methods. Autotrofe denitration on sulfur will start at a much higher oxygen level as heterotrophe denitration. The reactor is much less sensitive for oxygen fluctuations and the bacteria will start to work at a positive ORP (+- 50mv I think) ..so a lot more flow is possible if the reactor is big enough. Big enough to give time and space to deplete the oxygen entered.
Passing the total volume true the reactor is not the max. Tests have proven that a sulfur-denitrator still can remove some nitrate at a flow of 10liter/h/liter. This is 240 x This test was made with tube reactors by Hignette.
Michel Hignette, Benoît Lamort, Marc Langouet, Sebastien Leroy and Guy Martin used and tested sulfur reactors for years. The system I use is based on their invention and their work.
I do not use high tech because I find it not necessary. When used as part of the system there is no need for measuring the effluent frequently. Once in balance it will be self regulating within its limits. We just relay on our regular nitrate measurement of the system water. We have PH reading in the reactor and one after the skimmer., From time to time we have to adjust the flow a bit but not every month.
We where making tests to automate the system but as it stays steady there is nothing to adjust, so why automation of flow regulation? if nitrate increases unsuspectingly we have day's to adjust.
At high flow, which means low nitrate levels and high production, only +- 20% of the reactors capacity will be used for denitration, +- 80% for removing oxygen. The reactor must be big enough to remove the oxygen entered and keep enough space for removing the daily nitrate production...
My point of view, ORP can be used to keep reactors anaerobic when they are used just to reduce some nitrate at low flow, but how to manage the nitrate level with ORP readings, I have no clue. We have tried it but we were not able to manage our reactors based on ORP. But why using ORP when it can be managed easily without?
The maximum flow you can achieve is 8x the reactors volume each day..
Is this the max to keep ORP negative or is nitrate or/and nitrite present in the effluent? As I can remember you have a large reactor. How big is large and how large is the total system? Also the present nitrate level of the system water is needed to make an evaluation.
my reactor and use of sulfur is based on Marc Langouet, also!!! his findings are well known by many on this thread. here is the link.
http://http://mars.reefkeepers.net/USHomePage/USArticles/SulphurDenitrator.htm
however, his flow rates are not possible, imo and ime. maybe the translation is wrong?
if i increase the flow too much, i get no3 in the effluent. from Marc L.
"- If the flow rate is too high, you will detect nitrites or nitrates in the output water.
- If the flow rate is correct, you should obtain 0 nitrates"