Sulfur denitrator experiment

[Delphinus]

Sorry that this is such a long thread.

Day 14:

NO3 - 75ppm (Salifert, not going to bother with Elos until the NO2 is gone)
NO2 - 2.0 ppm (!! )

I have the flow cranked way, way back. Like 1 drop per 5 to 10 seconds.

I really do hope I'm seeing a reduction in nitrite and not just wishful thinking. Will test again in a couple of days. I figure at this point there's no benefit to testing every day, but maybe 2x or 3x a week until I see the NO3 drop.

[Psyire]

Glad to hear some good news. The other day I stumbled upon someone saying that it can take 6-7 weeks for an unseeded reactor to establish the bacteria in some cases. (depending on conditions and nitrate levels in main tank) Can't remember where I read this though...

[Delphinus]

Day 21

NO2 still >2.0ppm. Didn't bother testing NO3.

This makes watching paint dry seem exciting. I know I need to be patient but the lack of a visible trend in the #'s really does concern me. Is nitrite reducing bacteria really that hard to get to colonize?

I wonder if I have bad expectations. Is it possible the sulfur won't colonize nitrite reducing bacteria? I.e., should I just increase the flowrate now? Flush out the nitrites and let the remaining bacteria (hopefully there is some by now) just reduce the incoming nitrate?

This is far too complicated. All I end up with is questions and more questions and no real grasp of what you're supposed to be doing.

[Delphinus]

I still wonder about the Caribsea LSM. I've read a few times where people say if their reactor clogged, that getting it going again you get a wicked rotten eggs smell in the whole house. I mean, I have to basically get my nose right into a sample of this water, sniff it as hard as I can, and if I use my imagination I might imagine a slightly sulfurous scent (ie., not even close to Banff Hot Springs kind of scent). Low grade sulfur maybe???

Apparently American Marine did find my NO3 monitor to be defective, it's on its way back to me. Hopefully it arrives soon and I can start using it to track nitrates instead of guessing-the-pinks.

I might as well try a coil denitrator at this point too, what the heck, eh?

[andresont]

Can you combine coil denitrator with sulphur instead of bioballs?
I guess you wouldn't at this time eh?

I might as well try a coil denitrator at this point too, what the heck, eh? [/quote]

[Psyire]

Have things changed at all?

I just recieved my reactor today, so I'll be starting it up shortly. Should be an interesting experience...

[Delphinus]

Just tested nitrite tonight and it was off the chart again. Guess increasing the flowrate was the wrong thing to do.

Cranked it back to 1 drop per 7 seconds.

I have to wonder that something's wrong with this scenario. There must be too much O2 coming into the unit preventing a proper anaerobic zone. Next time I'm at Home Depot I'm going to buy maybe 50' of 1/4" tubing to add to the inlet. Not sure what's left to try after that.