Help with sulphur reactor....

[CHSUB]

Not an easy answer. However, sulfur media has a slight smell regardless and using the degassing port allows gas to escape with effluent; did with my reactor anyways. If not gas will collect in reactor. If the smell is powerful you should act, otherwise I had a barely noticeable smell sometimes. I would seek other opinions on this, as imo, it’s somewhat of a gray area. The problem can happen when the bacteria in the reactor runs out of no3 and begins producing h2s, rotten eggs smell. The ORP below ~ -400 is an indicator and is when I would increase flow or remove sulfur media.

 

[Pager880]

Not an easy answer. However, sulfur media has a slight smell regardless and using the degassing port allows gas to escape with effluent; did with my reactor anyways. If not gas will collect in reactor. If the smell is powerful you should act, otherwise I had a barely noticeable smell sometimes. I would seek other opinions on this, as imo, it’s somewhat of a gray area. The problem can happen when the bacteria in the reactor runs out of no3 and begins producing h2s, rotten eggs smell. The ORP below ~ -400 is an indicator and is when I would increase flow or remove sulfur media.

Brought a cheap orp monitor few weeks ago turned up today ... . Does indeed do negative.. I need to buy some calibration solution just to make sure it's point ... But what levels am I looking at ... I did read . -170/-175..is a good .zone ...just wanted to no . What not to let it fall below .../ Go over

 

[Pager880]

Orp is saying 271 today tested the effluent and no3 and 5/10ppm nitrate. ...but to get a 0 reading. I would need to decrease the flow in . And the orp will keep rising.....or do I increase flow /drip ..what range in orp should I be looking for ...IV read -300 is bad ...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Orp is saying 271 today tested the effluent and no3 and 5/10ppm nitrate. ...but to get a 0 reading. I would need to decrease the flow in . And the orp will keep rising.....or do I increase flow /drip ..what range in orp should I be looking for ...IV read -300 is bad ...

I cannot see a reason you need to reduce the nitrate even more in the effluent, assuming the tank has significantly elevated nitrate. To get that last 5 ppm reaches the point of diminishing returns.

 

[Pager880]

I cannot see a reason you need to reduce the nitrate even more in the effluent, assuming the tank has significantly elevated nitrate. To get that last 5 ppm reaches the point of diminishing returns.

Ok I will leave as is then .. I thought I had to reach 0 then up the flow ......yes the no3 in the main tank is 100ppm salifert..so it is doing a good job to bring it down ... what would you say a good orp is .think I've read not to let it drop bellow -300..

 

[Pager880]

I cannot see a reason you need to reduce the nitrate even more in the effluent, assuming the tank has significantly elevated nitrate. To get that last 5 ppm reaches the point of diminishing returns.

Going to have to do some big water changes soon .. as no3 still not coming down from 100+ ppm no3 effluent is steady 5/10ppm salifert.....haw long before the main tank no3 will start to fall ....i only feed pellets. Daily. Probably twice a week mysis....