My new sulphur denitrator setup

Delphinus · #1 02-12-2007, 02:40 PM

Cool idea to seed it. Seems to have made a huge difference. Awesome results..

For comparison I'm still not reading zero on my output after 6 weeks (although output < input). And weird that your Salifert doesn't have interference whereas mine did. I dont understand why I'm always the statistical anomaly...

Psyire · #2 02-12-2007, 04:28 PM

I thought the interference was isolated to the Nitrite test? I never did test for Nitrites, only Nitrates.

danny zubot · #3 02-12-2007, 06:55 PM

Very cool thread, I'm learning a lot.

Quote:

Technically I think you're better off not relying on the denitrator to replenish Ca and Alk on a heavy Ca drawing bioload (ie. SPS, clams, etc.).

Further to this comment; Could you use the system to work as a Ca reactor on a smaller tank? I've been debating building a coil denitrator for some time now, but this contraption would serve two purposes for my tank if it could be configured to work.

Delphinus · #4 02-12-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny zubot

Further to this comment; Could you use the system to work as a Ca reactor on a smaller tank? I've been debating building a coil denitrator for some time now, but this contraption would serve two purposes for my tank if it could be configured to work.

You could, but I still think it's not the greatest idea. The reason is you're trying to tune it to reduce nitrate (and the fact that it adds some Ca/Alk is just a happy bonus), not trying to tune it to maintain Ca/Alk levels in the tank. Ie., Ca and Alk will get used up at rate "X", NO3 will be added at rate "Y", you want to tune your sulfur reactor to match "Y" and you're stuck with whatever Ca+Alk rate that it produces. If that's less than "X" then it's not going to maintain the tanks Ca and Alk. Whereas the Calcium reactor is directly tunable to the Ca and Alk.

danny zubot · #5 02-12-2007, 07:59 PM

Hmm, ok. I'd still be interested to see what Ca levels come out of the unit.

Thanks though,

andestang · #6 02-13-2007, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

You could, but I still think it's not the greatest idea. The reason is you're trying to tune it to reduce nitrate (and the fact that it adds some Ca/Alk is just a happy bonus), not trying to tune it to maintain Ca/Alk levels in the tank. Ie., Ca and Alk will get used up at rate "X", NO3 will be added at rate "Y", you want to tune your sulfur reactor to match "Y" and you're stuck with whatever Ca+Alk rate that it produces. If that's less than "X" then it's not going to maintain the tanks Ca and Alk. Whereas the Calcium reactor is directly tunable to the Ca and Alk.

This brings up what I was wondering. I have a MoCalc 300 and was thinking of trying this idea. But could you try and acheive what you want for Ca/Alk and have the reduction of what ever amount for a reduction of nitrate ?

Psyire · #7 02-13-2007, 05:45 AM

Well if your drip rate is too fast then it will not function properly and if it is too slow you will get H2S created in the reactor... so that's probably not a good idea.

Your Ca production will also flucuate with your nitrate level reduction so it would be very difficult to get it constant. (unlike a CO2 bubble counter w/ solenoid control)

Psyire · #8 02-13-2007, 05:45 AM

I hooked the reactor up to my system tonight, my starting nitrate level in the tank is just under 50ppm

Delphinus · #9 02-12-2007, 07:17 PM

That's what they say, but remember I was getting NO3 readings over 100ppm? I'm guessing that had to be interference. Or I'm just REALLY a statistical anomaly.

Just another story about statistical anomalies though. I've never had a peppermint in 10 years in the hobby eat a single aiptasia. I've been through dozens of peppermints through the years. I always read stuff like "Hoo yeah my peppermints cleared my tank of aiptasia in half an hour!" Anyhow with the recent thread about the peppermints from Gold's eating aiptasia with at least two testimonials from people, I went and bought 2 and put them in my 110 (which already has a pair, so now 4 peppermints). I should point out that the tank has all of 3 aiptasias. If the peppermints would just eat the 3, they'd have my glowing admiration forever. This morning? I found a peppermint molt being chowed down by one of the aiptasias.

Still waiting to see evidence of these stupid shrimp ever eating aiptasias. I think it's just far more likely everyone else who claims they eat them is just in on the joke at my expense.

Getting back on topic though, I wonder if the difference is that I never ran my denitrator on a static body of water like you've done. Ie., I'm running mine on a live system that is producing nitrates every day, whereas cycling it on a bucket will start off with the nitrates at one level, and then only decrease as they get used up. So in that scenario all you have is a consumer, whereas I have a producer and a consumer and trying to adjust one variable while having another variable out of your control makes it just that much harder to get that viable trend showing. I'm sure there's an explanation. At the very least I know that the numbers seem to be slowly decreasing but I'll still just be happy to see it hit zero, if and when that ever happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyire

I thought the interference was isolated to the Nitrite test? I never did test for Nitrites, only Nitrates.