Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer
- Thread starter djbon
- Start date
I've realized that something else must be going on to reduce my nitrates besides the way the reactor is working.
Why? simple math. Given my estimate (based on sticking a little flask under the output of my reactor), I was running around 2ml a minute output. That is approx 25 gal per dal.
Even under the best scenario, this could only explain my tank going fro 100 to 60-70 ppm, but it is down to under 30.
why? I for the moment can think of three possibilities.
Any other ideas welcome.
1) probably most likely- ( i am careful doing these tests, but everone makes mistakes)
Test was not done accurately (likely that zero is correct for output since no color at all, but I could have messed up my reactions. Will test again Tuesday and that should settle this. -why only tuesday, because I have confidence in my testing so I'd like to use my reagents wisely when I test again.
2) I underestimated flow and it is two or three times the 2 ml per minute I measured. I have been adjusting the flow every few days, but I think I have a good feel for the flow associated with ~ 2ml/sec. PErhaps I don't really and flow is faster through the reactor.. I will measure flow more accurately with a 60 second fill of a beaker. While i may be a little off, I doubt I am inaccurate by 3 fold.
3) changing my NOPOX dosage from going into the tank to into the reactor has changed the way the rest of my tank handles nitrates. perhaps bacteria that were getting carbon are not, and so they are becoming more efficient at denitration.??
Why? simple math. Given my estimate (based on sticking a little flask under the output of my reactor), I was running around 2ml a minute output. That is approx 25 gal per dal.
Even under the best scenario, this could only explain my tank going fro 100 to 60-70 ppm, but it is down to under 30.
why? I for the moment can think of three possibilities.
Any other ideas welcome.
1) probably most likely- ( i am careful doing these tests, but everone makes mistakes)
Test was not done accurately (likely that zero is correct for output since no color at all, but I could have messed up my reactions. Will test again Tuesday and that should settle this. -why only tuesday, because I have confidence in my testing so I'd like to use my reagents wisely when I test again.
2) I underestimated flow and it is two or three times the 2 ml per minute I measured. I have been adjusting the flow every few days, but I think I have a good feel for the flow associated with ~ 2ml/sec. PErhaps I don't really and flow is faster through the reactor.. I will measure flow more accurately with a 60 second fill of a beaker. While i may be a little off, I doubt I am inaccurate by 3 fold.
3) changing my NOPOX dosage from going into the tank to into the reactor has changed the way the rest of my tank handles nitrates. perhaps bacteria that were getting carbon are not, and so they are becoming more efficient at denitration.??
djbon
New member
Let me recall what I have discovered long before through reading about denitfrying bacteria. Here it is -
Lack of light is one of the main contributor to successful denitrification process.
If you go through the whole thread, you will come across about this. Feel free to search on google about light and bacteria.
Lack of light is one of the main contributor to successful denitrification process.
If you go through the whole thread, you will come across about this. Feel free to search on google about light and bacteria.
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
djbon
New member
Here are the main criteria of my design:-
Adjustable water flow
Non pressurize system
A lot of surface area
Oxygen depleted area for denitrification to occur
Carbon source to feed bacteria
Lack of light to maximize nitrogen cycle
As long as all the above are met, it doesn't really matter how your reactor looks like.
Adjustable water flow
Non pressurize system
A lot of surface area
Oxygen depleted area for denitrification to occur
Carbon source to feed bacteria
Lack of light to maximize nitrogen cycle
As long as all the above are met, it doesn't really matter how your reactor looks like.
salty joe
Active member
Am I correct to assume the phosphate is removed by skimming the bacteria?
djbon
New member
Yes. Correct. But I don't skim that much because most of it (excess bacteria) is consumed by corals.
jml1149
New member
I've been monitoring the output of my reactor with an ORP probe, and I can confirm that if I stop dosing vinegar, even for a little while, my ORP jumps up considerably and takes much longer to recover.
I can't be certain, but it's a fairly reasonable assumption that the ORP jumps due to a decrease in biological activity of the bacteria. So, no vinegar, no nitrate reduction.
I switched from NoPox to straight 5% vinegar and my tank seems significantly happier. Sometimes, with the NoPox, my LPS would look just meh. No change in vibrancy with the vinegar.
I can't be certain, but it's a fairly reasonable assumption that the ORP jumps due to a decrease in biological activity of the bacteria. So, no vinegar, no nitrate reduction.
I switched from NoPox to straight 5% vinegar and my tank seems significantly happier. Sometimes, with the NoPox, my LPS would look just meh. No change in vibrancy with the vinegar.
blackthunda77
New member
When dosing bacteria like microbacter do you guys just follow the instructions on the bottle? Or is it some other regimen?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
I'm rethinking my plans now to incorporate a Donovan reactor into my current build. The idea of a carbon dosing process that keeps most of the carbon in a reactor instead of the DT where there is lots of light (resulting in cyano) seems like a big plus in my book.
It would be nice if there were an easy way to make the reactor stand up on its own. Do you have any sort of base incorporated in your design? Any pictures of that perhaps?
Since you have the camera out, how about some pics of your DT's? LOL
Thanks!
Chris
Tampa FL
salty joe
Active member
The PVC pipe could be glued directly to a flat piece of PVC or toilet flanges with the knockout left in place could be used instead of caps at the bottom.
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
jml1149
New member
Agree. I use the new FMM from Apex to monitor the flow into the reactor, and it's been helpful in identifying clogs or trends. Visual is the next best, but you should have some way to evaluate the output
djbon
New member
I'm rethinking my plans now to incorporate a Donovan reactor into my current build. The idea of a carbon dosing process that keeps most of the carbon in a reactor instead of the DT where there is lots of light (resulting in cyano) seems like a big plus in my book.
It would be nice if there were an easy way to make the reactor stand up on its own. Do you have any sort of base incorporated in your design? Any pictures of that perhaps?
Since you have the camera out, how about some pics of your DT's? LOL
Thanks!
Chris
Tampa FL
I am currently using self standing reactor. As for tank pictures, you can see some on posting #362 onwards. I will update my album as I just took my sps pictures. Nothing fancy on colors but I think it looks okay for a off the beach sps collection.
djbon
New member
Good to know you have ORP probe to monitor the activity. It should take a lot of data with various condition for a proper documentation of what happening in there. Can't wait to see your data jml. Good job!
