Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

[djbon]

That is interesting. So it would appear that light can slow down the conversion to nitrite for the bacteria used in this study. I am wondering if this photo inhibition applies to all the bacterial strains or just the ones they used.

Dennis

Nitrogen bubbles was clearly visible when it exits via the effluent tube after 5 days in operation. I didn't expect to see any results that fast, as the rings and bio balls are fresh from LFS. The combination of carbon & bacteria dosing in total darkness must have contributed to my success.

 

[gregkn73]

Another good reading about light and nitrate processing factors by certain bacteria.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC106331/

That is interesting. So it would appear that light can slow down the conversion to nitrite for the bacteria used in this study. I am wondering if this photo inhibition applies to all the bacterial strains or just the ones they used.

Dennis

To understand it , because my English are not so good.....
In the article I read" at low light intensities, nitrite accumulated as a result of light inhibition of nitrite but not of nitrate reduction rates.*"

It is meaning that the denitrification

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrification

NO3−*→*NO2−*→ NO +*N2O*→*N2*(g)


Stops at NO2? So instead of N2, we just achieve more NO2?

 

[gregkn73]

Looking forward to your reactor build and results. I am eager to know whether my design works for others as well.

I will try first to reduce the flow in my reactor, as much I can, and measure the outlet water for NO3. If I won't see any reduction, compared to the DT values, I will try yours.
So can you post some pictures of your actual denitrator. I would like to see how you make the inlets and outlets of water . Are they totally sealed? Also how did you connect the 2 tubes? I made all the PVC piping of my reef, but I am not an expert, and can not understand how did you connect the 2 tubes with the smaller PVC tube.

And some more questions for operation of it. Why did you have the outlet ,running in a sock? Do you run prefilter water in your denitrator? Did the materials in the first nitrification tube, needed any cleaning already? Do you run it inside your sump or outside? Did it ever clogged?

Sorry for the many questions Donovan, but I am really interested for your denitrator and considering to make it very soon Thanks in advance.

 

[djbon]

I will try first to reduce the flow in my reactor, as much I can, and measure the outlet water for NO3. If I won't see any reduction, compared to the DT values, I will try yours.
So can you post some pictures of your actual denitrator. I would like to see how you make the inlets and outlets of water . Are they totally sealed? Also how did you connect the 2 tubes? I made all the PVC piping of my reef, but I am not an expert, and can not understand how did you connect the 2 tubes with the smaller PVC tube.

And some more questions for operation of it. Why did you have the outlet ,running in a sock? Do you run prefilter water in your denitrator? Did the materials in the first nitrification tube, needed any cleaning already? Do you run it inside your sump or outside? Did it ever clogged?

Sorry for the many questions Donovan, but I am really interested for your denitrator and considering to make it very soon Thanks in advance.

You can see the clear tubing inlet/outlet in the video i shared. Look at 1st page.

Q1 - effluent output is on filter socks mainly to reduce salt creep. Secondly, to catch bacteria bloom. Socks was covered with slime, a lot!.

Q2 - yes, the water going to the reactor must be filtered to minimize clogging.

Q3 - reactor has been running for more than 6 months and never being cleaned. Output flow is very consistent. No problem so far.

Q4 - reactor is sitting inside the sump. You can run it externally if sealed properly.

Q5 - no clogging so far.

Interconnecting the chamber via 3/4 bulkhead on both side, cut a short 3/4" pvc pipe to bridge both reactor.

 

[gregkn73]

You can see the clear tubing inlet/outlet in the video i shared. Look at 1st page.

Q1 - effluent output is on filter socks mainly to reduce salt creep. Secondly, to catch bacteria bloom. Socks was covered with slime, a lot!.

Q2 - yes, the water going to the reactor must be filtered to minimize clogging.

Q3 - reactor has been running for more than 6 months and never being cleaned. Output flow is very consistent. No problem so far.

Q4 - reactor is sitting inside the sump. You can run it externally if sealed properly.

Q5 - no clogging so far.

Interconnecting the chamber via 3/4 bulkhead on both side, cut a short 3/4" pvc pipe to bridge both reactor.

Thanks again for your quick answers, but unfortunately in your video, I can only see the effluent flow, not the actuall connections of your clear tubing with the PVC chambers and how they are sealed. A pic will help me a lot.

 

[djbon]

Most of my diy equipment is left over item in my garage. I improvise most of them to suite my philosophy of "cheap but functioning", so do not laugh i:fun2:.

I found a blue plastic tube that fits snugly with the clear tubing. I used it as a union connector so that I can remove the fountain pump for cleaning.

 

[djbon]

Using the same blue tubing, I drilled the input & output hole to fit the blue tubing tightly. Cut the blue tube roughly 1.5", fit into the holes. Cut clear tubing 2" and connect to blue tube inside the chambers. Cut another clear tubing to proper length and connect to the other end of blue tubing externally. Push both clear tubing so that both meets up with reactor chamber for a nice fitting. Inlet and outlet are now ready :lolspin:

 

[djbon]

To control the inlet flow, cut a piece of galvanized iron rod, bend it over in the middle all the way so that both side meets each other. Pull back a little bit to form roughly 5 degree angle. Works perfectly and cost me nothing

 

[gregkn73]

[emoji122] in any diy project I always try to use everything I can find in my basement and then go buy, what I don't have. But in a magical way, always increasing the " stock " I have, instead of decreasing

Since I have a limited height of 60cm in my sump ,what do you thing of the following drawing. Don't laugh , I know how bad it is

If you can increase something, will it be the length or width of your double chamber denitrator?

 

[djbon]

Looks fine to me but filling the chamber will be a challenge. With 60cm in height, I will use 90 degree elbow, create a "U" shaped chamber with combine length 130cm. If I have to rebuild mine, I will use this design as well. Still, in/out tubing must be in a different level.

 

[djbon]

"U" shaped version

 

[gregkn73]

Looks fine to me but filling the chamber will be a challenge. With 60cm in height, I will use 90 degree elbow, create a "U" shaped chamber with combine length 130cm. If I have to rebuild mine, I will use this design as well. Still, in/out tubing must be in a different level.

In my drawing all the 4 chambers will have end cups at the top, the 2 in the middle , by using 2 of those

Why do you thing will be a challenge ,filling them? I am thinking using the 2 firsts ,for aerobic nitrification with bio rigs and other 2 ,filled with pumice for anaerobic denitrification. With 4 chambers, I am also thinking to add carbon, at the 3rd chamber, so only enhancing the anaerobic bacteria populations in pumice and avoiding bacteria slime at the 2 firsts chambers with bio rigs. My reef is 650lt net,so I think it is a good idea , to increase the total volume of your denitrator, from about 5,5 lt to 11lt by increasing the length , from 130cm to nearly 260cm,the water is moving in. What do you thing Donovan?

PS what programme do you use ,for those beautiful drawings?

 

[djbon]

Your design is okay. My suggestion is to make sure the middle chambers to be much lower than outlet level, probably an inch lower at the top point where the bridge is. This will ensure all media are covered in water all the time (gas buildup trap). I'm not sure why you wanted to add carbon?. You might need to tweak your flow rate a bit higher. Longer chambers is not necessary good, when carbon and nutrient are absent, if bacteria does exist at the farthest area, a different activity might take place. Just imagine when flow stops, after all nutrient has been used up, hydrogen sulfide is produced. But higher flow should eliminate this possibility.

 

[djbon]

The challenge i'm talking about is weight. With all media in it, weight might be a problem especially to manuever the denitrator into place.

 

[gregkn73]

Hi Greg,
The addition of vodka is simply to feed those bacteria, without carbon dosing the process is too slow.

Carbon dosing is essential in my design.

. I'm not sure why you wanted to add carbon?. You might need to tweak your flow rate a bit higher. Longer chambers is not necessary good, when carbon and nutrient are absent, if bacteria does exist at the farthest area, a different activity might take place. Just imagine when flow stops, after all nutrient has been used up, hydrogen sulfide is produced. But higher flow should eliminate this possibility.

I wanted to add carbon because of yours 2 first comment's. Isn't it essential for speeding the denitrification?

I wanted longer chambers exactly for the reason you described....to process higher volume of water, by higher flow through the media.

 

[djbon]

Hi Greg,

Sorry, I was confused with activated carbon . Carbon source should be added at the the very beginning. Food source is needed by both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

Ok, longer chamber should be okay as long as the flow rate is adequate. 1% to 2% of total water volume per hour flow through the chambers is close to ideal. Mine is currently about 1%.

 

[djbon]

Greg, do you have phosphate removal unit in place?

 

[gregkn73]

Greg, do you have phosphate removal unit in place?

Yes, even with ATS & a lot of chaeto , I still have to run small quantity of GFO in a reactor ,to keep low PO4. So I am waiting anxiously your results with the different carbon sources ,you are trying, to eliminate also them

 

[djbon]

Yes, even with ATS & a lot of chaeto , I still have to run small quantity of GFO in a reactor ,to keep low PO4. So I am waiting anxiously your results with the different carbon sources ,you are trying, to eliminate also them

PO4 uptake is kind of slow. Once NO3 is below 5ppm, my tank started to show some algae (GHA). PO4 & NO3 imbalance will have an impact on reef tank. PO4 abundance is worst than having NO3 in my oppinion .

 

[gregkn73]

PO4 uptake is kind of slow. Once NO3 is below 5ppm, my tank started to show some algae (GHA). PO4 & NO3 imbalance will have an impact on reef tank. PO4 abundance is worst than having NO3 in my oppinion .

So Donovan ,you didn't like the results with the new carbon source, you were experimenting, trying to reduce also PO4?

From my experience with PO4, is also bad, the unstable value of them=yo yoing. What I am trying , is a value for them, not necessarily very low and stick to it.