Sulfur Denitrator Help

[Ed Kaz]

Hi, I have been trying to re-start my Korallin Biodenitrator S1502 and can't seem to get it going? It ran GREAT for a year ... 4 months ago I tore it down to clean due to the crap that was in it. Cleaned with DI water and replaced media (DELTA High Purity Sulfur Reactor Meda). When I started the reactor I ran the output wide open for a few days then lowered output drip rate to a drip a second for the last 4 months. The nitrates levels still have not changed in 12 weeks ? Nitrates @ 80ppm from reactor output. Is there something I can dose to seed reactor (would MicroBacter 7 or something else work?). I have some BioDigest and Bioptim that I have not used (was going a different route with a Reef Octopus bio-churn reactor) I could not find a "freshness date" on box? Just was wondering why or what bacteria is needed. The only thing I dose is All for Reef. Tank is 300gal. and been set-up for over 17 years mostly fish only (porcupine puffer makes a mess!) with a few rose anemones and hammerhead corals.

Thanks for any Help
Ed

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not know if any commercial bacteria additives have species that will colonize the sulfur, but I would doubt it.

Have you tried upping the flow or measuring nitrate in the effluent?

 

[Ed Kaz]

Hi Randy, thanks for getting back to me. By effluent, do you mean the reactor output? Yes, this is where I measured it with a hanna digital tester. I sure can increase the output flow, but I thought very slow drips are what is needed so bacteria can colonize, then increase flow? Attached is the instructions from korallin...
Thank Again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So you measured the reactor output and got a value of 80 ppm (I see that now). Did you compare that to the tank value?

 

[Ed Kaz]

Yes they are both the same.

 

[Ed Kaz]

I will give it a few more weeks and then pitch it....
BTW:
Do you have any opinion on the Reef Octopus bio-churn reactor? Is it worth the trouble?

 

[X-37B]

It took around 2 months for my no3 reactor to get effluent to zero. I used a Kamoer and pulled from the sump. It takes time so no hurry.
I actually took mine offline and dose vodka now. Simple, easy , and effective.

 

[Ed Kaz]

It took around 2 months for my no3 reactor to get effluent to zero. I used a Kamoer and pulled from the sump. It takes time so no hurry.
I actually took mine offline and dose vodka now. Simple, easy , and effective.

I have been in it for 4 months! No change? It hurts nothing to run it. Like I said I will give it a few weeks. Thanks

 

[X-37B]

Slow the drip rate down until the effluent is zero and adjust from there. If effluent is the same no3 as the tank it needs more dwell time to lower it.
If its been 4 months it is going to fast through the reactor.

It may not hurt anything but it will lower the ph of your system.