DSB in a bucket for nitrate control

[davidwillis]

The reason I ask is that I would like to do this with a 8" high 6' foot long plastic window box........plumbed outside. I would have 6" SB depth and 6' long.......

You can give it a try. I don't think there has been enough testing to know for sure. I went with 12" deep, because that is what people have been seeing results with.

 

[davidwillis]

Start No3: 35.6
one week No3: 30.9
two weeks No3: 23.6
three weeks No3: 22.5
four weeks No3: 22.2
five weeks No3: 21.5
six weeks No3: 6.3
seven weeks No3: 17.4

 

[davidwillis]

Start No3: 35.6
one week No3: 30.9
two weeks No3: 23.6
three weeks No3: 22.5
four weeks No3: 22.2
five weeks No3: 21.5
six weeks No3: 6.3
seven weeks No3: 17.4
eight weeks No3: 19

 

[davidwillis]

Start No3: 35.6
one week No3: 30.9
two weeks No3: 23.6
three weeks No3: 22.5
four weeks No3: 22.2
five weeks No3: 21.5
six weeks No3: 6.3
seven weeks No3: 17.4
eight weeks No3: 19
nine weeks No3: 16.8

 

[griss]

Any thoughts on the big drop in week 6 and the jump back up in week 7?

 

[davidwillis]

Any thoughts on the big drop in week 6 and the jump back up in week 7?

maybe a bad test? I don't get too excited or discouraged from one test. I just watch the trend

 

[davidwillis]

Also my flow has slowed down (I need to change my 5micron filter). So that could be a reason.

 

[davidwillis]

I just put in a new pump, with more flow (and can handle more pressure). I am getting good flow now, so we will see if the drop continues now.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Not too fast there sir.
Slower is better in this scenario.

 

[davidwillis]

The flow is just going over the top of the sand, so a higher rate will not effect the lower levels of the sand. But even then, I don't have a very high flow rate, because I don't want to wash sand out of the bucket.

 

[davidwillis]

Start No3: 35.6
one week No3: 30.9
two weeks No3: 23.6
three weeks No3: 22.5
four weeks No3: 22.2
five weeks No3: 21.5
six weeks No3: 6.3
seven weeks No3: 17.4
eight weeks No3: 19
nine weeks No3: 16.8
Ten weeks No3: 14.8

This week I had some issues with my vinegar dosing. I had filled the jug back up, but forgot to turn the valve back on, so I did not dose any vinegar for a few days. I noticed something was strange when my skimmer stopped skimming. Once I started dosing again, the skimmer started working again.

Also just to let you know what my vinegar dosing has been (as it should effect no3). I was dosing 211 ml per day at the time I started the deep sand buckets (no3 was at 35.6). On Dec. 7 I cut that back to 126ml, and on dec 14 I cut it back to 96ml.

This week I was expecting my no3 to go up, since I went several days without dosing, and about 36 hours without my skimmer doing anything.

 

[davidwillis]

Start No3: 35.6
one week No3: 30.9
two weeks No3: 23.6
three weeks No3: 22.5
four weeks No3: 22.2
five weeks No3: 21.5
six weeks No3: 6.3
seven weeks No3: 17.4
eight weeks No3: 19
nine weeks No3: 16.8
Ten weeks No3: 14.8
eleven weeks No3 19.5

I think I will stop with updating on this, I think it is clear that the 3 buckets of sand was able to reduce the nitrates from 35 to 20, and it only took about 3 weeks to get there. It may slowly creep down more, but I think that is about the limit, and I will need to add more buckets if I want it lower. I was a little worried with 35-40, but at the 14-20 range I feel fine.

So at this point I will stop doing weekly updates.

 

[griss]

Even if you stop doing weekly updates, I’d love to see at least periodic updates. Thanks for documenting your journey.

 

[jason2459]

I agree with griss. Even though you may not get a lot of replies there are people following and find it interesting. Thanks for the updates.

 

[T Diddy]

I agree with griss. Even though you may not get a lot of replies there are people following and find it interesting. Thanks for the updates.

This^^

 

[phc567]

^ what he said. I’m interested.

 

[shred5]

I agree with griss. Even though you may not get a lot of replies there are people following and find it interesting. Thanks for the updates.

yep.

 

[davidwillis]

Thanks guys. I will update if I get a bigger drop, or if it goes back up. Currently is is just staying right in the 20 range + or minus 5.

One thing I noticed this week (not sure if it is related) is that my po4 went down to zero (I was keeping it at 0.05 to 0.1 by using LC). I stoped using LC, and it is now staying at 0.05, after about 5 days of no LC.

 

[davidwillis]

There has not been much of a change in no3, since the last update. It is still 20+- 5. I am tempted to pull it off line and see what happens. If it goes up, then we would know it was doing something, and if it stayed the same, we would know it was not doing any good.