Help with sulphur reactor....

[X-37B]

Sulfer and aragonite in the same chamber is fine.
The problem is not enough contact time with the media.
No one I know runs a recirculating pump.
You just want to pull/push through the reactor and that's it. It's all about dwell time.

 

[CHSUB]

Sulfer and aragonite in the same chamber is fine.
The problem is not enough contact time with the media.
No one I know runs a recirculating pump.
You just want to pull/push through the reactor and that's it. It's all about dwell time.

Nothing is wrong with anything. Most effective is separate, recirculating is best. Don’t know who you know. Have run sulfur many times many ways.

 

[14 foot reef]

Sulfer and aragonite in the same chamber is fine.
The problem is not enough contact time with the media.
No one I know runs a recirculating pump.
You just want to pull/push through the reactor and that's it. It's all about dwell time.

I run a recirculating pump, A kamoer I push through. I Use a Calcium Reactor Aquamaxx T-3 the largest one converted to a Sulphur reactor.
Started my unit about 6 weeks ago. I currently run 100ml/m as the effluent stream. Here are my current numbers,
Main Reef 8.3ppm from 45 ppm 6 weeks ago
Reactor effluent is .3 ( but from a HR Hanna Nitrate checker )

I have not changed one other thing on my reef other than adding reactor.

So circulating does work, and my system is 1000 gallons. And both medias in same reactor.

Effluent dropped on day 5 and I have went from 45 in reef to 8.3.

Just my results, other methods will work also.

 

[X-37B]

I'm just posting what I run. I don't see the reason why you would recirculate the reactor like a carx but I know many do. I have never done it that way so.
I have been at this 30+ so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Question now is what is the op going to do?
Good luck and post your results.

 

[Pager880]

Tested effluent today..and .. nitrites.at 0.50ppm....so shut off effluent flow / drip.. and going to let it circulate on its own in the reactor.and test effluent every 24 Hours....like others have suggested....

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all can anyone help me with my . sulphur reactor.....it's just a pass through one .just a old reactor re 1 drip every 3 seconds....1 liters of each media.....been running now for 7 weeks nitrates,.in the tank are 50ppm and effluent is 100ppm.... salifert test kit ...but I did test my tank for nitrite.tank is 0.... effluent is reading 0.25ppm.nitrite ... So confused.,do I just have to waite longer .for bacteria to build ... somebody help

If you use aragonite to help off set the alkalinity drop caused by sulfur denitrators, just remember to keep an eye on calcium since it will climb. :)

 

[Pager880]

If you use aragonite to help off set the alkalinity drop caused by sulfur denitrators, just remember to keep an eye on calcium since it will climb. :)

I dose ..so will keep an eye on it .. and adjust accordingly thanks for info

 

[Pager880]

It's been 24 Hours since closed the .drip / flow ...tested the effluent...and overnight.... nitrite. Reading 0 ppm .....nitrates gone down to like 10 . Thing is the when I de gassed it ..it stank of rotten eggs ....now do I just open the drip back to the sump at 1 drip per second ....as don't want to kill my fish / coral .

 

[CHSUB]

It's been 24 Hours since closed the .drip / flow ...tested the effluent...and overnight.... nitrite. Reading 0 ppm .....nitrates gone down to like 10 . Thing is the when I de gassed it ..it stank of rotten eggs ....now do I just open the drip back to the sump at 1 drip per second ....as don't want to kill my fish / coral .

Yes. Dump some of first effluent, keep drip slow. Does the effluent go out of the top of the reactor? This is better, but not necessary.

 

[Pager880]

Yes. Dump some of first effluent, keep drip slow. Does the effluent go out of the top of the reactor? This is better, but not necessary.

Well it goes out the output . But I have read if I use the . De gas port as the effluent out it helps with gas escaping...ok I have already dumped a few reactor's with of effluent..,..now have it dripping 1 drip per second....in a water container...so now do I just test daily..till reads 0

 

[CHSUB]

Well it goes out the output . But I have read if I use the . De gas port as the effluent out it helps with gas escaping...ok I have already dumped a few reactor's with of effluent..,..now have it dripping 1 drip per second....in a water container...so now do I just test daily..till reads 0

Sound good. The reason I ask if the output is on top is that you don’t have to degas because, obviously, gas escapes with the effluent. If not regular degassing is required. Sulfur is tricky, and I did it well, however do a lot of research and understanding the process and pitfalls. Imo, I would double check all advice with multiple sources to insure security and success.
Here is mine that I run for about 5 years on a 300 gallon DT. It was ORP controlled and pH monitored.

 

[Pager880]

Sound good. The reason I ask if the output is on top is that you don’t have to degas because, obviously, gas escapes with the effluent. If not regular degassing is required. Sulfur is tricky, and I did it well, however do a lot of research and understanding the process and pitfalls. Imo, I would double check all advice with multiple sources to insure security and success.
Here is mine that I run for about 5 years on a 300 gallon DT. It was ORP controlled and pH monitored.

That's impressive.....I do want to get a orp price for this ..with a meter ...but can't find anything about what size will go in this ..model the karolin c1502. ....was going to get a 7 in one ..but the probe looks to big for the hole ..

 

[CHSUB]

That's impressive.....I do want to get a orp price for this ..with a meter ...but can't find anything about what size will go in this ..model the karolin c1502. ....was going to get a 7 in one ..but the probe looks to big for the hole ..

thanks. The controller is Aqua Medic, if you look closely you can see the negative ORP reading (-168). The controller would turn a pump on when the ideal valve was reached about -90, iirc. After months it just stayed on and flow was a steady stream. I had to start removing some sulfur because it was working too well and the valve was approaching -400 which was too low.

 

[Pager880]

thanks. The controller is Aqua Medic, if you look closely you can see the negative ORP reading (-168). The controller would turn a pump on when the ideal valve was reached about -90, iirc. After months it just stayed on and flow was a steady stream. I had to start removing some sulfur because it was working too well and the valve was approaching -400 which was too low.

So say when you remove some sulfur... Do u have to wash it all out and start again.....like when you first start up ...........and would something like this work just to get me in ballpark for the orp.

 

[CHSUB]

So say when you remove some sulfur... Do u have to wash it all out and start again.....like when you first start up ...........and would something like this work just to get me in ballpark for the orp.

That is an awesome looking controller, however don’t think the probes would fit inside reactor. An important consideration with ORP is most monitors don’t measure negative values. There is a hack that you can reverse something and force it to read negative, but I have never done it. With removing sulfur, I opened reactor and took some out, it started up again in a day or two, no big deal.

 

[Pager880]

That is an awesome looking controller, however don’t think the probes would fit inside reactor. An important consideration with ORP is most monitors don’t measure negative values. There is a hack that you can reverse something and force it to read negative, but I have never done it. With removing sulfur, I opened reactor and took some out, it started up again in a day or two, no big deal.

This one says it it can read -2000 to 2000+MV ..dont no if thats any good ..but all the units use the same plug . So can't I just buy a probe that will fit and use that .... ......shut the reactor effluent off for 6 hours till ten tonight as 24 was way to long ..

 

[CHSUB]

This one says it it can read -2000 to 2000+MV ..dont no if thats any good ..but all the units use the same plug . So can't I just buy a probe that will fit and use that .... ......shut the reactor effluent off for 6 hours till ten tonight as 24 was way to long ..

Yes, -2000 is more than enough, however don’t know about probes that fit? Does not hurt to stop effluent if you monitor no3. Mine would stop all the time in the beginning when ORP got positive number.

 

[Pager880]

Yes, -2000 is more than enough, however don’t know about probes that fit? Does not hurt to stop effluent if you monitor no3. Mine would stop all the time in the beginning when ORP got positive number.

Just tested again ...0 nitrites....0 nitrates...so started the effluent dripping at 1 drip a second.from the Degas valve ....into a 25l jerry can .....see what it reads in the morning..fingers crossed all still good ..

 

[Pager880]

Just tested again ...0 nitrites....0 nitrates...so started the effluent dripping at 1 drip a second.from the Degas valve ....into a 25l jerry can .....see what it reads in the morning..fingers crossed all still good ..

Well tested this morning and test results back to wear that was before ..and eggy smell back flow must have stopped sometimes through the night......as I don't get the same sort of flow through the de gas valve unless it's below the reactor itself..so closed it and use ING the proper effluent output ...smell has gone ..going to try 1 drip every 2 seconds till later when I'm back in

 

[Pager880]

Update just got in .. had partner close effluent today for 1 hour ... tested as soon as I got in effluent 0 nitrite...and nitrates 25ppm ..... straight tank water is about 100pm .so definitely working with no egg smell ...so just going to leave it to do it's thing now ....