Sulfur Denitrator looking gross

[reefslugs]

I bought a new Geo Sulfur denitrator last March. It has done wonders on lowering nutrients in my aquarium. I just noticed the media inside is not looking so good. I think the sulfur, which I bought from Geo, is too small and compacted. Not allowing enough flow to circulate through the reactor, causing the media to turn yucky. I do have the effluent at full stream. What do you all think? Is this normal for it to look like this? Should I change the media out and start over?

Alk=7.85
Cal=505
Mag=1356
Phos=.6
No3=5
Salt=1026

 

[X-37B]

The media should stay yellow and the bones should be white.
Do you run a pre filter. I run mine through a filter prior to entering the reactor.
Filter gets dirty the media stays clean.
I need to change mine.

 

[geo]

I bought a new Geo Sulfur denitrator last March. It has done wonders on lowering nutrients in my aquarium. I just noticed the media inside is not looking so good. I think the sulfur, which I bought from Geo, is too small and compacted. Not allowing enough flow to circulate through the reactor, causing the media to turn yucky. I do have the effluent at full stream. What do you all think? Is this normal for it to look like this? Should I change the media out and start over?

Alk=7.85
Cal=505
Mag=1356
Phos=.6
No3=5
Salt=1026

Please go back and read the directions on the media. There is one change to them and that is we no longer recomend a sponge at that bottom. Only a screen on the bottom and a sponge on the top. Please read carefully regarding the layering and mixture of the sulfur.
Sulfur Reactor directions:

 

[reefslugs]

Please go back and read the directions on the media. There is one change to them and that is we no longer recomend a sponge at that bottom. Only a screen on the bottom and a sponge on the top. Please read carefully regarding the layering and mixture of the sulfur.
Sulfur Reactor directions:

Thank you so much Geo for trying to help me with my problem. I absolutely love your products. All your products are top notch. I need to get me one off those calcium reactors. Anyway, I went and looked at my reactor and I have it setup like you were saying. See the photos.

 

[reefslugs]

Also notice Geo I now have the effluent at full stream because the media is turning yucky. I wanted to give it more flow, so it does not get anymore yucky. I just realized that is the wrong thing to do. My nitrates are too low. Can't believe I can say that. My nitrates have always been very high. That's why I bought this reactor. I need to slow the effluent down and let the nitrates to go up a little. I like 25 nitrates. Maybe I need to take some sulfur out?

 

[geo]

Thank you so much Geo for trying to help me with my problem. I absolutely love your products. All your products are top notch. I need to get me one off those calcium reactors. Anyway, I went and looked at my reactor and I have it setup like you were saying. See the photos.

Actually I was referring to the sulfur and calcium reactor media. At the very bottom you lay the screen down. Then the bottom 2" of the reactor should be calcium reactor media. This acts as a pours barrier to allow water to flow upward without being restricted and keeps the fine sulfur from falling through. On top of that 2" your sulfur goes on but should be a 3 part sulfur to one part calcium reactor media. This mixture keeps the sulfur mixture more pours allowing better water flow through it. Then on top of that you put the foam pad. You never want to stack the reactor media on top like you have it. All that weight compresses the sulfur over time and stops the water flow.

 

[geo]

Also notice Geo I now have the effluent at full stream because the media is turning yucky. I wanted to give it more flow, so it does not get anymore yucky. I just realized that is the wrong thing to do. My nitrates are too low. Can't believe I can say that. My nitrates have always been very high. That's why I bought this reactor. I need to slow the effluent down and let the nitrates to go up a little. I like 25 nitrates. Maybe I need to take some sulfur out?

The flow has to do with how you put the media inside. Read my comments above.

 

[Ridz19]

was this issue resolved as am interested in GEO's sulfur reactor

 

[HTFish]

Please go back and read the directions on the media. There is one change to them and that is we no longer recomend a sponge at that bottom. Only a screen on the bottom and a sponge on the top. Please read carefully regarding the layering and mixture of the sulfur.
Sulfur Reactor directions:

Geo, why not the sponge at the bottom, on top of the screen? Is it because it impedes water flow too much?

 

[geo]

Geo, why not the sponge at the bottom, on top of the screen? Is it because it impedes water flow too much?

Exactly in a short amount of time it really slows down water flow. Also, it will hold gas bubbles, which overtime as they collect will make the media rise inside of the cylinder.