Thought I would post more details of what I built. This re-circulating Denitrate Sulfur reactor design was built around the three(3) reactors I already had, not because I thought it was better design than any other. Some basic research on forums and implementation of some simple theories is what this design is based on. No voodoo science or overly complicated BADESS theories applied here "“ KISS
My aquarium system that needs to be treated with sulfur denitrator is a 500 gallon interconnected multi tank system with very large sump.
- Reef Dynamics BPR1000 bio pellet reactor
- Reef octopus RO-RPS7000EXT skimmer
- AE Tech ETSS 1000XR skimmer
- DIY algae scrubber
- 100 gallon Rubbermaid tub with 8" DSB
- 100 gallon Rubbermaid tub filled with about 300lbs of live rock
- Nitrate 75ppm
- PH: 8.0
Bits and Pieces used in build:
Three(3) 6"x18" (UMC618) GeoReef upflow media reactors
- One(1) lid modified to accommodate ORP probe
- All three reactors fitted with gas bleed valve on top
Circulation pump: Ehiem / Compact marine+ (adjustable flow 800-2400l/h)
Feed Pump: MaxiJet 1200
ORP Controller: Milwaukee SMS125 PH & ORP controller (apparently discontinued)
Pinch Valve: Bio-Chem Valve 100P2NC12-05S
Pre Filter: 10" canister filter with 20micron cartridge
CaribSea LSM: 1 gallon (roughly based on djfrankie - gallons x .006 = liters of LSM)
Seachem Matrix Bio media: 8 ltrs (no fancy math, just enough to fill reactor to top)
CaribSea ARM: 2 gallons (no fancy math, just enough to fill reactor to top)
Lots of PVC fittings and pipe
REACTOR #1
- 1gallon (3.75ltr) CaribSea LSM sandwiched between screens with some Sechem Matrix bio media sandwiched between some Matala matt on top just to take up space and to prevent fluidization of sulfur media. No other reason than just to take up space.
- output of Reactor #1 connected to bottom input of Reactor #2
- Lid holds ORP probe (interchangeable lid could be moved to any other reactor)
REACTOR #2
- Eight(8) ltrs of SeaChem Matrix bio media (less the little bit in top of reactor #1)
- Added a screen and Matala matt on top just to take up space and to prevent fluidization of Sea Chem Bio Media.
- Output of Reactor #2 connected to bottom input of Reactor #3
REACTOR #3
- Reactor #3 Two(2) gallons of CaribSea ARM
- Output of Reactor #3 connected to recirculation pump an Ehiem / Compact marine+ (adjustable flow) and then connected to bottom input of Reactor #1
EFFLUENT OUTPUT x two(2)
- Coming out the top of Reator #3 is effluent drip/flow Output #1, it's manually adjusted with micro ball valve.
- Effluent drip/flow Output #2 is controlled via Milwaukee SMS125 PH & ORP controller that will energize a NC pinch valve. If/when ORP reaches too low > -180 the pinch valve will open and allow additional flow into the reactors. I could also place a micro ball valve on this output as well so that the increased input flow is also adjustable. Thus making the reactor ORP environment adjustment/change very slow.
If I've manually adjusted reactor input flow optimally (via output #1 ball valve) and ORP never reaches a critical level the pinch valve will never open. I added this because bad stuff always happens at 3am or when you're out of town.
Input Feed
After the drip/flow output ports #1 & #2 and before the recirc. pump is the aquarium water input feed via the MaxiJet 1200. I first passed the feed water through a 10" canister filter housing fitted with 20micron filter cartridge, I'm doing this just to keep crap from building up in reactors. Might do away with it if it doesn't help keep it clean, or it's just a stupid idea.
Treatment cylinder for effluent output
The final section of my sump is 23" deep. In an effort to raise the pH level and get rid of any N2S & CO2 gas out of the effluent I assembled a 22" piece 6" of PVC pipe with a cap cemented on the bottom to seal it. I cemented lengthwise a 24" piece of 1/2" PVC pipe with an elbow on the bottom to the inside of the 6" PVC pipe. (I'll drip the effluent down this 1/2" pipe.)
About 1" from the top, on the opposite side I drilled a hole and cemented a short piece of 1/2" PVC for the conditioned effluent to drip out and into the sump. I could also drip my calcium reactor effluent into it to treat it as well.
In the bottom of the 6" PVC pipe I built a little stand out of ½" pvc pipe with a round piece of egg crate and screen sitting on the top of the stand. I then fed an airline down to an air stone sitting under the stand and then filled the thing with 1 gallon of ARM. I'm using a Hiblow air pump to pump the air into the treatment cylinder.
The idea is for the sulfur reactor effluent to enter the bottom via ½" PVC pipe of the treatment cylinder and be pulled up by the bubbles thought the ARM to help raise the pH, expel and CO2 and re-oxygenate the low oxygen effluent before entering the sump. Sounded good, lol.
Test supply water
I was just too nervous to connect this thing up to a live system so I went with a test tank filled with 15 gallons of water taken from my live system. 10 gallons of the 15 gallons would be replaced every day to maintain the high NO3 levels fed into the reactors.
- NO3 75ppm, PH 8.0, Heated to 80
I initially seeded test water with several drops of ZEObak microorganism solution. (a lot more than product recommends) I did not add ZEObak to any of the subsequent replacement water I changed daily.
Next, we'll start this thing up"¦