Sulfur DeNITRIFIER DIY!!!
- Thread starter uncleant
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Hormigaquatica
Active member
Sorry- took me a couple days to get a shot 
This isnt my own, its one of the first ones we played with at work- it handles a 1000g system fully stocked pretty well.
This isnt my own, its one of the first ones we played with at work- it handles a 1000g system fully stocked pretty well.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Really couldnt say- Ive never used one of the coil types. I would assume the sulfur denitrator would be more efficient because you are providing a food source and oxygen depleted environment for the anaerobic bacteria (the sulfur coupled with slow water flow) rather than just the anaerobic conditions you get in a coil. But like I said, thats just a speculative WAG.
melev
Well-known member
That was very inventive. I like it. In the picture, the media isn't in canisters. I'm thinking the canisters will require the fluid to flow through the media instead of circulate over the top of it, as it appears in that picture.
I wouldn't mind making one myself. Might have been nice to do that before I ran AZNO3 in my tank.
I wouldn't mind making one myself. Might have been nice to do that before I ran AZNO3 in my tank.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Yeah, I think keeping it in cansiters would be a little more efficient- better exposure to the media. The last one I put together for a customer was run with refillable DI canisters in there, rather than just loose- his worked very well, and had the added bonus of reducing the chances of media moving into canisters down stream or blocking the tubing.
OK, I put a unit together using three RO/DI housings each containing refillable DI canisters. My system is gravity fed.
Gravity feed from the display tank initially seemed to be more than adequate.
However, 7 days after the initial setup the water flow through the unit has slowed to a crawl. The only thing I can think of is that the media in each of the three canisters has settled and caused the flow to slow.
Gravity feed doesn't seem to be working anymore.
I'm going to switch to a pressure feed off of the main return pump. Hopefully this will work better...
Gravity feed from the display tank initially seemed to be more than adequate.
However, 7 days after the initial setup the water flow through the unit has slowed to a crawl. The only thing I can think of is that the media in each of the three canisters has settled and caused the flow to slow.
Gravity feed doesn't seem to be working anymore.
I'm going to switch to a pressure feed off of the main return pump. Hopefully this will work better...
OK, this is getting frustrating!
I switched over from gravity feeding my DIY sulfur denitrator, to driving it via the return pump.
That increased the flow initially, but over the last few days it's slowed to crawl and will presumably eventually stop.
I'm using standard DI housings with the 1/4" semi-rigid tubing you normally see with RO/DI units. I'm also using refillable DI cartdriges to hold the media (sulfur, ARM calcium media, and carbon) and the canisters are filled to the top.
Why is the flow rate dropping???
I can only guess that the media is settling and providing more resistance to the water flow?
Should I only fill the canisters halfway?
Should I not use canisters at all?
Any help is appreciated.
I switched over from gravity feeding my DIY sulfur denitrator, to driving it via the return pump.
That increased the flow initially, but over the last few days it's slowed to crawl and will presumably eventually stop.
I'm using standard DI housings with the 1/4" semi-rigid tubing you normally see with RO/DI units. I'm also using refillable DI cartdriges to hold the media (sulfur, ARM calcium media, and carbon) and the canisters are filled to the top.
Why is the flow rate dropping???
I can only guess that the media is settling and providing more resistance to the water flow?
Should I only fill the canisters halfway?
Should I not use canisters at all?
Any help is appreciated.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Hmm, not a problem that Ive run into. Are you sure there arent fines getting into your lines or something, clogging them up? Then again, if youre using the DI containers, that shouldnt be an issue.
I suppose the next thing I would try is cutting back on the amount of media in the canisters- like you mentioned, it may be packed a bit too tight.
Sorry Im not more help on this one- like I said, its not an issue Ive had so far. There are only so many things that can block the flow on these though.. .
I suppose the next thing I would try is cutting back on the amount of media in the canisters- like you mentioned, it may be packed a bit too tight.
Sorry Im not more help on this one- like I said, its not an issue Ive had so far. There are only so many things that can block the flow on these though.. .
Ok, I did some debugging tonight, and found that it was indeed the DI canisters.
I'm sure there are several slightly different types. I got mine from 'the filterguys'. They have some white foam pieces near the top of the canister (where the water enters) and also a white foam 'donut' that fits around the screw on cap at the bottom.
These foam pieces weren't the problem. The problem was the screw-on cap on the bottom of the DI canister. It had triangular holes around the perimeter for the water to exit through. On the inside of the cap there is what appears to be a felt strip glued on which covers the triangular holes.
This felt clogged up really badly on the sulfur canister. The A.R.M. canister and carbon canister were OK. I'm guessing that the nitrate-eating bacteria clogged up the felt on the sulfer canister.
I removed the felt from the refillable canister caps on all three canisters just to be safe. I now have good flow through the sulfer denitrator.
Hopefully, the more pourous white foam pieces won't also clog eventually...
This seemed like a really good idea, but so far it's reminding me of all the trouble I had keeping a constant flow through my calcium reactor (back when I briefly ran one).
I'm sure there are several slightly different types. I got mine from 'the filterguys'. They have some white foam pieces near the top of the canister (where the water enters) and also a white foam 'donut' that fits around the screw on cap at the bottom.
These foam pieces weren't the problem. The problem was the screw-on cap on the bottom of the DI canister. It had triangular holes around the perimeter for the water to exit through. On the inside of the cap there is what appears to be a felt strip glued on which covers the triangular holes.
This felt clogged up really badly on the sulfur canister. The A.R.M. canister and carbon canister were OK. I'm guessing that the nitrate-eating bacteria clogged up the felt on the sulfer canister.
I removed the felt from the refillable canister caps on all three canisters just to be safe. I now have good flow through the sulfer denitrator.
Hopefully, the more pourous white foam pieces won't also clog eventually...
This seemed like a really good idea, but so far it's reminding me of all the trouble I had keeping a constant flow through my calcium reactor (back when I briefly ran one).
Hormigaquatica
Active member
That makes more sense to me then. I havent used that brand of canister before (I think most of mine are from buckeye field supply...), and just kinda assumed most were a similar design to the ones I had around- sorry about that. Hopefully that will clear up the issue for you.
did you purchase the add on di units with refillabe canisters. i also just recently set up the same unit. i left the felt pad in, but i thing the unit works different than you are describing. i believe that water enters the unit around the refillable unit, then it goes up the unit through those triangular holes, through the media then out the exit tube.
the reason i ask this is i am wondering if the filter guys mislabeled the units i received. the way i described the unit working above is how they labeled my unit (they labeled input and output). first the water filled (partially) around the di container then it worked its way up the media and out the unit. if i have it backwards please let me know.
i have had my unit set up for one week and i would like to make a switch if needed. i use a kent marine system for my tank and i think the way you describe it working is how that one works.
the reason i ask this is i am wondering if the filter guys mislabeled the units i received. the way i described the unit working above is how they labeled my unit (they labeled input and output). first the water filled (partially) around the di container then it worked its way up the media and out the unit. if i have it backwards please let me know.
i have had my unit set up for one week and i would like to make a switch if needed. i use a kent marine system for my tank and i think the way you describe it working is how that one works.
Yes, I purchased the 3 of the 'add-on DI units' from Filterguys. I think they were thirty something dollars each.
And yes, my mistake -- the water travels around the canister and then up through the triangular holes. (The way I described is completely backwards).
That also explains why it was the sulfur canister that clogged, as the felt on that one is the first thing the aquarium water hits. The weird thing is, when I was gravity feeding the unit I had a sponge prefilter on the feed line. That would have kept particulates out of the denitrator, yet it still clogged. Maybe it clogged with bacteria/algae growth?
In any case, the felt covering the triangular holes can become very restrictive. I think it's only an issue because we're using these canisters in an application they weren't designed for. If used as intended, after prefilters and an RO membrane, the input water would be very clean and the felt would not cause a problem.
Anyway, I ripped the felt off the inside of the canister cap on all three canisters. It's really not needed.
If I continue to have water flow problems I'll try buying some refillable canisters from Buckeye.
Good luck, and let us know how your unit is working out for you.
And yes, my mistake -- the water travels around the canister and then up through the triangular holes. (The way I described is completely backwards).
That also explains why it was the sulfur canister that clogged, as the felt on that one is the first thing the aquarium water hits. The weird thing is, when I was gravity feeding the unit I had a sponge prefilter on the feed line. That would have kept particulates out of the denitrator, yet it still clogged. Maybe it clogged with bacteria/algae growth?
In any case, the felt covering the triangular holes can become very restrictive. I think it's only an issue because we're using these canisters in an application they weren't designed for. If used as intended, after prefilters and an RO membrane, the input water would be very clean and the felt would not cause a problem.
Anyway, I ripped the felt off the inside of the canister cap on all three canisters. It's really not needed.
If I continue to have water flow problems I'll try buying some refillable canisters from Buckeye.
Good luck, and let us know how your unit is working out for you.
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got an email from filter guys the flow through the unit is bottom to top as you described it on your last post.
my unit is doing ok. i am out of town this week so my wife is taking care of the take. when i left the nitrates out of the unit had climbed to over 100. i slowed the drip to 30/min. my tank nitrates are at about 20. this will hopefully do the trick. i pm'ed randly holmes and he stated that the very high nitrates out of the effluent may be related to the test kit detecting nitrite as well (even worse). my wife reports the tank is doing well and all inhabitants are good. i will retest the tank friday night, at that time it will be about two weeks running.
i hope i don't regret taking that felt off. my thought was that since water was flowing up it would be less likely to get clogged.
additionally, the only thing i have noticed is that my water has a very slight cloudingness to it. i think it may be the argonite as i didn't rinse it since it appeared to be moist.
any thoughts??
my unit is doing ok. i am out of town this week so my wife is taking care of the take. when i left the nitrates out of the unit had climbed to over 100. i slowed the drip to 30/min. my tank nitrates are at about 20. this will hopefully do the trick. i pm'ed randly holmes and he stated that the very high nitrates out of the effluent may be related to the test kit detecting nitrite as well (even worse). my wife reports the tank is doing well and all inhabitants are good. i will retest the tank friday night, at that time it will be about two weeks running.
i hope i don't regret taking that felt off. my thought was that since water was flowing up it would be less likely to get clogged.
additionally, the only thing i have noticed is that my water has a very slight cloudingness to it. i think it may be the argonite as i didn't rinse it since it appeared to be moist.
any thoughts??
My unit has been up and running for a little over a week. I'm following Hormigaquatica's recommendations on setting the flow, which is basically to run the unit with no restriction on the flow for two weeks. Then, test the output water for nitrates. If the output is at or near zero, leave everything alone. Otherwise, close the valve and slow the flow a bit, and repeat.
I have to admit that this seems a bit counter-intuitive, since my flow seems rather high. It's a steady stream not a drip, and I wonder if anaerobic conditions will be able to establish in the sulfur canister.
Although it hasn't been two weeks, today I tested the reactor's efluent for nitrates and it read exactly the same as my tank water, somewhere between 25 and 50 ppm. I'm using a Salifert nitrate test kit, so it would seem that the Salifert kit reads only nitrate (not nitrite as well).
Your cloudiness is probably from the aragonite. I wouldn't worry about it unless it doesn't clear up in a day or two. I didn't rinse my media, but when I started it up I let it drain into a bucket until the efluent ran clear.
What sulfur media are you using? I got mine from midwest aquatics. They carry a high-purity sulfur pellet that is innoculated with the nitrate-eating bacteria. They are ball-bearing sized spheres that are supposed to resist clumping and compacting as the sulfur is consumed.
We shall see ;-)
I have to admit that this seems a bit counter-intuitive, since my flow seems rather high. It's a steady stream not a drip, and I wonder if anaerobic conditions will be able to establish in the sulfur canister.
Although it hasn't been two weeks, today I tested the reactor's efluent for nitrates and it read exactly the same as my tank water, somewhere between 25 and 50 ppm. I'm using a Salifert nitrate test kit, so it would seem that the Salifert kit reads only nitrate (not nitrite as well).
Your cloudiness is probably from the aragonite. I wouldn't worry about it unless it doesn't clear up in a day or two. I didn't rinse my media, but when I started it up I let it drain into a bucket until the efluent ran clear.
What sulfur media are you using? I got mine from midwest aquatics. They carry a high-purity sulfur pellet that is innoculated with the nitrate-eating bacteria. They are ball-bearing sized spheres that are supposed to resist clumping and compacting as the sulfur is consumed.
We shall see ;-)
