Sulfur denitrater won't cycle

[vegaskid11]

I rinsed my LSM media with fresh RODI water when I first started it up and it cycled fully within a week.

Just two weeks ago I took my reactor down and cleaned out the whole unit, (it had fouled with H2s) and I not only rinsed the LSM media, I soaked it in RODI for 3 days while trying to get it clean of H2S smell. I re-used about 60 percent of the media (I dont need as much with lower no3 in my tank now) and the unit again cycled completely within a week. Fresh water rinse did not seem to effect mine at all.

 

[Reefski's]

does anyone have a quantity of media recommendation for my 1500 gallon system?

why does the media have to be sulfur? i thought that denitrification occured in caco3 in LR and LS. why couldn't it be used in this application as well?

 

[Nanook]

I have 1200 gallons and used 10.5 of the imported sulphur pearls from Premium Aquatics.

 

[vegaskid11]

I used 3 liters of LSM for 500 gallons.

 

[ayrton]

My reactor has been on line for ten weeks now and nitrites are always 3 mg/l with the effluent drip rate of 1 drop every 2 seconds. I don't know what can I do. High nitrites mean the reactor don't cycle. Why it happen???????

 

[vegaskid11]

slow the drip to 1 drop every 3-4 seconds and your nitrite should hit 0 within a day or two.

 

[ayrton]

slow the drip to 1 drop every 3-4 seconds and your nitrite should hit 0 within a day or two.

After 3 days nitrites are still off the chart high :furious:

 

[vegaskid11]

How about a picture of your set-up. Is your reactor air tight?

 

[vegaskid11]

What type of test kit are you using and is it expired?

 

[Dalmerjd]

Here we go again...
I received the new media from Midwest. I put both medias in without rinsing. I put the reactor on line a week ago. I did some testing yesturday to find the unit had cycled and is now working fine. My system nitrates a week ago was 5, now they are down to the point I can barely see a colour change at all.

 

[ayrton]

How about a picture of your set-up. Is your reactor air tight?
What type of test kit are you using and is it expired?

My reactor should be air tight; I don't see any air leak!

I use salifert test kit and it isn't expired; I've used also tetra test kit to be sure of the result!

 

[martinphillip03]

Nice thread! I bought a 3 month old Midwest Aquatics denitrater. The reactor had been tasken down and drained. Rinsed the media with FW, then set it up. Its been set up for 6 days. After 2 days went from 1 drop a sec to 3 drops/sec. Saturday tested the tank and denitrater for nitrates. Tank about 50, denitrater definitely 20.
I plan on cheching the reactor daily until zero. Then bump it up. I was thinking 5 to 6 drops/sec. Any input is appreciated

Thanks

Marty

I rinsed my LSM media with fresh RODI water when I first started it up and it cycled fully within a week.

Just two weeks ago I took my reactor down and cleaned out the whole unit, (it had fouled with H2s) and I not only rinsed the LSM media, I soaked it in RODI for 3 days while trying to get it clean of H2S smell. I re-used about 60 percent of the media (I dont need as much with lower no3 in my tank now) and the unit again cycled completely within a week. Fresh water rinse did not seem to effect mine at all.

 

[martinphillip03]

Nitrates down to 10

Marty

Nice thread! I bought a 3 month old Midwest Aquatics denitrater. The reactor had been tasken down and drained. Rinsed the media with FW, then set it up. Its been set up for 6 days. After 2 days went from 1 drop a sec to 3 drops/sec. Saturday tested the tank and denitrater for nitrates. Tank about 50, denitrater definitely 20.
I plan on cheching the reactor daily until zero. Then bump it up. I was thinking 5 to 6 drops/sec. Any input is appreciated

Thanks

Marty

 

[martinphillip03]

Nitrates less than 5. Bumped up the flow rate. Just a little.

Marty

Nitrates down to 10

Marty

 

[martinphillip03]

The effluent from the denitrater went from approx 5 to approx 15. Will leave it alone until under 5 again. Another update tomorrow

Marty

Nitrates less than 5. Bumped up the flow rate. Just a little.

Marty

 

[martinphillip03]

Update, my little bump up wasn't a good idea. Effluent nitrates went up to 40. Lowered back to a drop a second. Will measure tonight. I willc update again tomorrow

Marty

Nitrates less than 5. Bumped up the flow rate. Just a little.

Marty

 

[martinphillip03]

Update, my little bump up wasn't a good idea. Effluent nitrates went up to 40. Lowered back to a drop a second. Will measure tonight. I will update again tomorrow

Marty

Just checked again. Now zero going to go to 2 drips second

Marty

 

[martinphillip03]

Just checked again. Now zero going to go to 2 drips second

Marty

Up to 3 drops a second. Nitrates a little above zero. I mifgt be at maximium rate. I will leave it alone for a few days

Marty

 

[reefslugs]

Just wanted to share.

Just wanted to share.

Hey what is the diameter of you sulfur denitrator also you see the new geo sulfur reactor at premium aquatics do you think that unit is any good thank jeff[/QUOTE]
Thanks for asking and letting me know Geo is making one. The diameter does not matter. It's how much sulfur thats with in it. At the time when I bought my reactor Geo was not making one. If at the time Geo had one, I would have purchased one. Depending on the price. Geo makes high quality products and you get what you pay for. I am surprised that Geo is cheaper then the reactor I bought. If I were you I would defiantly buy Geo over other brands. The sulfur denitrater is one of the best equipment pieces that I have purchased for my tank. I do not do water changes at all. Nitrates are zero. I feed the tank heavily once a day and twice on the weekends. Tank is full of sps and looking great.

 

[Nanook]

I had an issue with mine after taking it down to clean it. I rinsed the sulphur with tank saltwater and got it going again. It ran for a few months and I could never increase the drip rate past a certain point without nitrate/nitrite. Perhaps it needed to be seeded with that denitrifying NBC stuff? I would get zero nitrate at 25cc/minute and then increase it just a bit and get high levels again. That went on for a long time before I wisened up and got all new media for the reactor.

The other thing I did this time around was adding only sulphur pearls (15#) to the reactor with NO aragonite to keep only one chemical reaction inside the reactor. A prefilter to keep the fine detritus would be a nice touch if I could find one. I am just now dialing this in again after changing the media about a week ago....nitrates are greater than 44 on my Lamotte test kit.