Sulfur DeNitrators
- Thread starter logman17
- Start date
1 week update
1 week update
So the Denitrifier has been in use for almost exactly 1 week.
As of right now, I have noticed the following:
For the first 3 days(tues, wed, thurs), I ran it at 1 drip/second.
I measured the effluent thurs night at 1 drip/second and found
NO2 = trace amount
NO3 = tank level (about 35ppm)
Increased the drip rate to about 3 drip/second on friday.
measured the effluent again:
NO2 = undetectable
NO3 = tank level (about 35ppm)
So - as of friday - no change
Same drip rate on sunday
NO2 = undetectable
NO3 = about 30ppm / Tank level NO3 = about 35ppm
I used a Hagen NO2 test and a Seachem NO3 test kit along with with some strip tests because I had 'em
So - as of sunday - no change in tank level NO3 but a slightly lower (about 5ppm) effluent reading.
Today, tuesday, I did a full test of the tank:
Ph - 8.1-8.3
Calcuim- 450 on average
Salinity - 1.024
Alkalinity - 190 ppm
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 35 ppm
And tested the effluent:
NO2 = undectable
NO3 = 20-25ppm
Anyway - I guess it still too early to tell whether it's working yet. I definately think it's going in the right direction just based on the fact that the tank level NO3 hasen't risen / stayed steady over the past week & also because the effluent has slowly decreased from 30/35ppm to 20/25ppm - a full shade lower on the test kits.
After the effluent gets to 0ppm if the tank level NO3 hasn't decreased enough I can still increase the drip rate up to 6 drips/second.
I'll post again after a few more tests.
1 week update
So the Denitrifier has been in use for almost exactly 1 week.
As of right now, I have noticed the following:
For the first 3 days(tues, wed, thurs), I ran it at 1 drip/second.
I measured the effluent thurs night at 1 drip/second and found
NO2 = trace amount
NO3 = tank level (about 35ppm)
Increased the drip rate to about 3 drip/second on friday.
measured the effluent again:
NO2 = undetectable
NO3 = tank level (about 35ppm)
So - as of friday - no change
Same drip rate on sunday
NO2 = undetectable
NO3 = about 30ppm / Tank level NO3 = about 35ppm
I used a Hagen NO2 test and a Seachem NO3 test kit along with with some strip tests because I had 'em
So - as of sunday - no change in tank level NO3 but a slightly lower (about 5ppm) effluent reading.
Today, tuesday, I did a full test of the tank:
Ph - 8.1-8.3
Calcuim- 450 on average
Salinity - 1.024
Alkalinity - 190 ppm
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 35 ppm
And tested the effluent:
NO2 = undectable
NO3 = 20-25ppm
Anyway - I guess it still too early to tell whether it's working yet. I definately think it's going in the right direction just based on the fact that the tank level NO3 hasen't risen / stayed steady over the past week & also because the effluent has slowly decreased from 30/35ppm to 20/25ppm - a full shade lower on the test kits.
After the effluent gets to 0ppm if the tank level NO3 hasn't decreased enough I can still increase the drip rate up to 6 drips/second.
I'll post again after a few more tests.
Pickupman66
New member
log man, looks like things are working smoothly. the nitrator is working perfectly, just hte ammt of flow thru it hasnt quite made a dent in the overall volume of the tank.
Fishboy42
Premium Member
I use those strips for my FOWLR tanks and clownfish growout and I like them. They aren't extremely precise, but they give you a general idea. If I dip one in any of the reeftanks though, both patches stay white. Are they old or could they have been exposed to moisture? The color on the nitrite patch there is a little disturbing. Just in case, have you tested with a traditional kit too?
-Matt
-Matt
skydancer
New member
DAY#4: I measured the nitrates coming out of the XL sulfur denitrator (midwest aquatic) and are still showing high (25-30). I guess the de-nitrator has not developed enough bacteria yet, right?
I'm still dripping 1 drop/sec and I should not go up to 3 until the nitrates are zero. Do you guys agree?
JNB? Logan17? what say you?
Thx/Alex
I'm still dripping 1 drop/sec and I should not go up to 3 until the nitrates are zero. Do you guys agree?
JNB? Logan17? what say you?
Thx/Alex
jnb
Premium Member
I would just follow the directions
I am still dripping at a little over 1 drop a minute and will not change until I feel that I am getting an accurate test results and it is 0 - which means I need to try another test brand - this time salfiet
I believe I have commited to being patient on this despite my usual anxiety and the fact that these were to come with freeze dried bacteria, etc - if my current efffluent becomes zero before I change it - then that makes me happy and I suspect might actually keep up with my system - maybe not bite into the preexisitng nitrites till I step it up
I am still dripping at a little over 1 drop a minute and will not change until I feel that I am getting an accurate test results and it is 0 - which means I need to try another test brand - this time salfiet
I believe I have commited to being patient on this despite my usual anxiety and the fact that these were to come with freeze dried bacteria, etc - if my current efffluent becomes zero before I change it - then that makes me happy and I suspect might actually keep up with my system - maybe not bite into the preexisitng nitrites till I step it up
jnb
Premium Member
despite the seeded bacteria - my instincts are that 4 days is not enough - be surprised - I dare you - to not test it for 7 more days
I am so friggin tired of the anxiety I experience over this reef keeping that I think I am evolving in to being more patient - either that or taking a 44 magnum to it
I am so friggin tired of the anxiety I experience over this reef keeping that I think I am evolving in to being more patient - either that or taking a 44 magnum to it
jnb
Premium Member
your reef is 2.5 inch acrylic? really - I have never heard of that
funny cause I am having a 120 built using One inch and I thought I was overkilling like no body's business
how do you like the acrylic and what special measures/routine tdo you take to keep it clear of scratches
who built it?
funny cause I am having a 120 built using One inch and I thought I was overkilling like no body's business
how do you like the acrylic and what special measures/routine tdo you take to keep it clear of scratches
who built it?
skydancer
New member
Got your attention Huh? Just wanted to see how good your 44 was...
OK my acrylic is 36 inch tall, 4 ft long, 3 ft deep and has a semicircle in the back that hugs the staircase. Check out my gallery (I don't know how to incorporate an image into the message). It was custom built around the staircase and trim was added to make it "part of the house".
OK, Thikness IS ONLY 1 INCH.
The distortion is incretably minimal!!! and I try extra hard to not have sand on the magnet when I clean the glass. Some scratches are inevitable but it hasn't gotten bad yet. (2 years later) If it gets bad I'll give the scratch kit a try. I 've already bought a scratch kit but haven't used it...
The guy that built the tank, repaired a scratch once but only used one grit and didn't smooth it out with a finer grit so from the "side" of the tank looking out you can see where the repair is, but you can't see it from the front!!!
The tank was custom built by House Of Fish (Ken House). If you need his info PM me.
I hope I answered your questions...
fishnugget
Active member
Why Midwest
Why Midwest
Curious, why did you buy midwest vs Koralin reactor?
Why Midwest
Curious, why did you buy midwest vs Koralin reactor?
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