Poor Man's Nutrients Control - Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

@Donovan Joannes,
So far in 14 days after the installation of reactor,
Nitrate from the output of reactor is still 50ppm (Salifert) as shown in the below image right from day 1,

Dosage - Day 1 to 6 - 5ml of MB7 and 5ml of VSV
Dosage - Day 2 to 14 - 5ml of MB7 and 6ml of VSV

What do you think shall i continue with the dosing of MB7 or only dose VSV. Please advise.

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
@Donovan Joannes,
So far in 14 days after the installation of reactor,
Nitrate from the output of reactor is still 50ppm (Salifert) as shown in the below image,

Did you seeded the reactor with bacteria?. What is your flow rate? How much vodka you dosed? Any picture of the reactor outlet flow?

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Dear DJ,
Please find below the image of output water for your reference, it took 13 second to fill 50ml of water. I have connected the reactor to return manifold.

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
@Donovan Joannes,
So far in 14 days after the installation of reactor,
Nitrate from the output of reactor is still 50ppm (Salifert) as shown in the below image right from day 1,

Dosage - Day 1 to 6 - 5ml of MB7 and 5ml of VSV
Dosage - Day 2 to 14 - 5ml of MB7 and 6ml of VSV

What do you think shall i continue with the dosing of MB7 or only dose VSV. Please advise.

resending, with the dosage details and bacteria seed details. I am having thin white film later on my glass which I am cleaning every 3 days.

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
Dear DJ,
Please find below the image of output water for your reference, it took 13 second to fill 50ml of water. I have connected the reactor to return manifold.

What is your total water volume?. Display NO3 level?

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Total water volume is 152 gallons, I have not checked the display nitrate.

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
Total water volume is 152 gallons, I have not checked the display nitrate.

Please measure DT NO3 as well for comparison.

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Ok i think it will also be 50ppm hopefully. This was my last result two weeks before.

What if the readings are same as of the display?

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
Ok i think it will also be 50ppm hopefully. This was my last result two weeks before.

What if the readings are same as of the display?

A few recommendations:-

1) Your outlet pipe is too big, allowing air to enter the second chamber. We want air tight chamber here as denitrification happens at low oxygen

2) To test whether denitrification do happens, test the effluent output after 30 minutes vodka being dosed. If it is lower, test one more time after few hours and compare the differences.

3) If no NO3 reduction at item 2, reduce the flow to 25ml/10 seconds and repeat test no 2

* Please make the outlet hose smaller first

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

do you think I have to make a new reactor or reducing the outlet hose size will be ok ?

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
do you think I have to make a new reactor or reducing the outlet hose size will be ok ?

What is the size of that chambers?. Height of each chambers?

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

18" height each but I think I have lowered the inlet and outlet too much, So I think making it again would be better....

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
18" height each but I think I have lowered the inlet and outlet too much, So I think making it again would be better....

What about diameter?

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

3 inch PVC pipe

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
3 inch PVC pipe

I would say 4" diameter at 20" height each are better for your water volume.

Before you build another one, do this test first:-

- Reduce the effluent outlet to smaller hose so that the water covers the whole outlet

- Dose 5ml vodka, wait 30 minutes and test effluent output and compare with DT

- After 2 hours, do another test for both

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Dear DJ will do it and update you the same with pictures.

Donovan Joannes · Jul 28, 2017

Ponraj A said:
Dear DJ will do it and update you the same with pictures.

OK. The reason for the test is I have one special case (somewhere in USA) where multiple dosage spread out in a day is the only way his NO3 can be reduced. I have mentioned earlier that auto dosing will produce a better result for some.

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

Donovan Joannes said:
OK. The reason for the test is I have one special case (somewhere in USA) where multiple dosage spread out in a day is the only way his NO3 can be reduced. I have mentioned earlier that auto dosing will produce a better result for some.

I am not having dosing pump, will it be ok if I split 5ml dosage of VSV two times a day or two times a day each with 5ml of VSV?

Ponraj A · Jul 28, 2017

@Donovan Joannes
Please find below of outlet pipe reduction did in the afternoon and since I had less time back to work I have not tested the display nitrate will check and update by tomorrow.
Kindly advise whether this will be ok ?

Also fine the link of output video for reference,