Sulfur DeNITRIFIER DIY!!!
- Thread starter uncleant
- Start date
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Run line between 3 'add-on' RO canisters, plus a feed line, and a drain.
Hook a small maxijet up to the feed line, with a flow restricter valve in the line. An aqualifter might work here too, though Ive never tried it- I think the flow would be too slow though.
1st canister: Sulfur media
2nd canister: Crushed coral/Calcium reactor media (to adjust pH)
3rd canister: Granular activated carbon (to help remove hydrogen sulfide)
Note, you can get refillable media canisters (like what DI media comes in). I would suggest using those to put your media in, just to prevent any particles from clogging up the lines.
Test the effluent coming out of the reactor after a week or two; if you still have high nitrates, turn the restricter valve and reduce the flow through the reactor. If it comes out clean (or real close to it) then leave it be.
One thing to note, I think its better to run the effluent into a sump, rather than directly into the tank. That will allow for more aeration and reduction of any potential Hydrogen sulfide produced by the reactor.
Its worked pretty well for me and for people Ive put them together for anyhow.
Hook a small maxijet up to the feed line, with a flow restricter valve in the line. An aqualifter might work here too, though Ive never tried it- I think the flow would be too slow though.
1st canister: Sulfur media
2nd canister: Crushed coral/Calcium reactor media (to adjust pH)
3rd canister: Granular activated carbon (to help remove hydrogen sulfide)
Note, you can get refillable media canisters (like what DI media comes in). I would suggest using those to put your media in, just to prevent any particles from clogging up the lines.
Test the effluent coming out of the reactor after a week or two; if you still have high nitrates, turn the restricter valve and reduce the flow through the reactor. If it comes out clean (or real close to it) then leave it be.
One thing to note, I think its better to run the effluent into a sump, rather than directly into the tank. That will allow for more aeration and reduction of any potential Hydrogen sulfide produced by the reactor.
Its worked pretty well for me and for people Ive put them together for anyhow.
Conesus_Kid
Premium Member
Hormigaquatica-
How high were your nitrates initially that prompted you to put this online?
Thanks!
How high were your nitrates initially that prompted you to put this online?
Thanks!
Hormigaquatica
Active member
You know, its been running for a while, and I really dont remember. The last one I helped someone hook up dropped his Nitrates from 40ppm to 9 within 2 weeks if I remember correctly. (Total volume on that system is over 200g)
JaredWaites
Premium Member
If you go back and read, it really will depend on how its effecting your nitrates.
There I hit the easy button
There I hit the easy button
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Hahaha..
It will be a fairly slow stream. If youve ever run an RO unit then you will be familiar with how fast the waste water drains out; itll be a flow similar to that. But it really will take some fine tuning- you will want the fastest flow possible while still giving it just enough time to polish off the nitrates.
Yes, I did read that. I was just wondering what flow rates you
typically would end up with. I wondering if instead of feeding
it with a powerhead I could instead feed it by gravity from the
main tank.
typically would end up with. I wondering if instead of feeding
it with a powerhead I could instead feed it by gravity from the
main tank.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11257830#post11257830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JaredWaites
If you go back and read, it really will depend on how its effecting your nitrates.
There I hit the easy button
Question: I've seen reports of these sulfur reactors producing
smelly hydrogen sulfide at times. What causes this? Is it from
adjusting the flow rate? Should it not happen with a properly
functioning reactor?
Thanks!
smelly hydrogen sulfide at times. What causes this? Is it from
adjusting the flow rate? Should it not happen with a properly
functioning reactor?
Thanks!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11257880#post11257880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hormigaquatica
Hahaha..
It will be a fairly slow stream. If youve ever run an RO unit then you will be familiar with how fast the waste water drains out; itll be a flow similar to that. But it really will take some fine tuning- you will want the fastest flow possible while still giving it just enough time to polish off the nitrates.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Im not sure if that would work or not; if you are able to split a line off of your drain line it may work alright, but that would take a bit more playing with than Ive done so far. If you get it to work, let us know how you did it, would you?
Any sulfur reactor is going to produce hydrogen sulfide to an extent- its just a byproduct of the anaerobic bacteria that are used to process out the nitrates. Obviously you want to prevent as much of it from getting into the tank as possible (it is a poisonous gas), so there are a few things you can do to help it. In the design I put up, Im relying pretty heavily on the carbon to adsorb it. You can also help things out by running the effluent into a sump rather than directly into the tank (the extra water movement through the pumps and all will help to de-gas it), and/or running an air stone by the drain line. If the smell of sulfur is strong enough to be noticeable then something isnt right- you may need to increase your water flow through the reactor, or maybe improve ventilation around the sump. If too much of this stuff makes it into the tank you Will see it affect your coral (LPS will deflate and receede pretty quickly. Im sure SPS would be none too pleased too).
ReefJunkieOK
New member
Hormigaquatica
Active member
I dont actually; sorry. We had a handful of them around at work, so had been using those. If your LFS carries RO units, I would imagine they could get a hold of just the canisters for you. Maybe Lowes or Buckeye Field Supply could too- just guessing though.
Thanks. I'm going to try a gravity feed first. This would be from
a siphon off the main tank, roughly 5' above the sump. I'll let
you know how it works.
Another question: The media -- meaning the sulfur, crushed
coral, and carbon; do they need to be changed, and if so how
often?
Thanks!
a siphon off the main tank, roughly 5' above the sump. I'll let
you know how it works.
Another question: The media -- meaning the sulfur, crushed
coral, and carbon; do they need to be changed, and if so how
often?
Thanks!
Hormigaquatica
Active member
The sulfur is used as a food source for the bacteria- eventually it will need to be replenished, but not for a Real long time. The crushed coral will dissolve slowly and will eventually need to be refilled (the pH out of the sulfur is below 7.0, so the coral-chamber acts like a mini calcium reactor). Again, that will take a while. The carbon should be replaced every month or two IMO. Over time it will lose its ability to remove the hydrogen sulfide.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Some of the premade ones have a recirculation pump on them just to extend the amount of time the water spends moving through the media. I didnt bother putting one on mine because I just didnt find it necessary; you can control the dwell time by using a flow restrictor on the feed or drain line. I will say that restricting the flow may shorten the lifespan of your feed pump (if youre using one). If you had a feed pump running full tilt, then depended on a recirc pump to increase dwell time, the feed pump would probably last a bit longer. But- I just wasnt that concerned about the $20 MaxiJet.. lol
