Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

[ravi197699]

I checked the water of the output of the reactor and it is reading 15ppm, I just seeded the reactor with 5m of vinega, Should slow down the output of the reactor?

 

[djbon]

You need to measure output flow. 1% flow is the best flow in my experience. Vodka to vinegar dosing ratio is high, at least 4 times higher than vodka. You might need to increase carbon, or try vodka if you can get one.

 

[ravi197699]

I will increase the vodka dosing to 10 - 15 ml week and check results

 

[djbon]

Are you using vodka or vinegar Ravi?

 

[gregkn73]

You need to measure output flow. 1% flow is the best flow in my experience. .

Don I still can not understand that. 1% you are referring to DT volume or , whole system volume, or reactors volume? Net or gross volume?

 

[gregkn73]

I checked the water of the output of the reactor and it is reading 15ppm, I just seeded the reactor with 5m of vinega, Should slow down the output of the reactor?

Ravi I thing that your reactor still haven't produce results for you. Your DT NO3 reduction was irrelevant to it. So make the steps Don suggests you, and watch NO3 at reactors outlet. It is the only way to understand if it is working as a denitrification chamber or just as a nitrification.

 

[gregkn73]

I just tested my display water column and here was the result. My bioload varies from time to time due to feeding changes (wife, daughter and me if i'm at home ). I recently added sun coral, so broadcast feeding added at night when sun coral is blooming. I added carbon dosing 5ml at night, instead of single dosing in the morning daily.

Don at reactors outlet are you still targeting 0 NO3 or sightly lower than DT no3 levels?

 

[djbon]

Greg, 1% of total volume. Example, 75 gallon total,so effluent output @ 1% is 7.5gallon per hour.

Yes, effluent output no3 reading will tell you if your chambers has reached nitrification and denitrification. Lower no3 at effluent means your chambers has reached maturity, the only adjustment is flow and carbon dosing. Slowing down the flow means more oxigen will be consumed in aerobic chambers, so denitrifying bacteria colony will be able to process more no3.

Once your DT has reached 5ppm or lower, than you need to adjust flow, carbon or both to maintain no3 level you are targeting. It can be zero no3 effluent if your bioload is heavy. Mine is not heavily loaded, so i just maintain detectable no3 at effluent. I stripped my DT zero no3 when running fallow few months back.

 

[gregkn73]

Greg, 1% of total volume. Example, 75 gallon total,so effluent output @ 1% is 7.5gallon per hour.

0.75g/h

 

[djbon]

Hohoho. Yes sir, 0.75gph

 

[ravi197699]

Are you using vodka or vinegar Ravi?

I am using Vinegar ..

 

[djbon]

Vinegar require higher doses. If i remember correctly vodka is 8 times (40% alcohol) compared to vinegar (5% acetic acid). You can mix vodka and vinegar at certain ratio for better result. As for me, vodka works with my denitrator.

 

[djbon]

Short video of my tank

http://vid1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff398/djbon73/My reef tank_zpsf1uzrdmf.mp4

 

[jml1149]

Today I added the connections to attach a peristaltic pump for auto dosing the carbon:

I also switched over to NoPox for a bit to see how it goes getting down past 15 ppm. Lots of DIY pvc.

 

[djbon]

Wow Jml, looks more like commercial product now. I'm speechless :O

 

[djbon]

Wow. That is super amazing upgrade. I'm speechless!

 

[jml1149]

This is your fault!!! Hah thanks. The thing stands almost four feet tall at this point. I may have dosed a bit extra last night trying to prime the line and have a hefty bloom this morning so we'll see

 

[djbon]

Haha. I wish i have the material to automate the dosing. Oh well....

 

[jml1149]

I use an Apex and a BRS doser pump, but you can do it on the cheap for probably under 50 bucks. You would need one of the cheap peristaltic pumps on eBay and a digital timer outlet that has enough granularity. And if you couldn't find one, you could dilute the vodka to match. It's possible no doubt

 

[ravi197699]

I have started raising the vinegar dose in my reactor, Hopefully this is give it a kick start, If this reactor is sucess then I am going to build one with 10" Diameter pvc x 40" high, I is left over pvc piple from previous project..