Sulphur Denitrator -> Hydrocarbonite -> Managing DKH/PH

[Leko]

Hi all,

Q) How much influence does the Hydro carbonite have on a SD's effluent?

We all know the HD reactor does influence DKH/PH - but how much? What about a bigger/longer HD reactor to increase DKH if needed?

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What's the question for?


Simplicity. Simplicity is the name of the game for me and if I can manage Nitrates with an effluent near 9DKH - that's gold.


Other methods of controlling Nitrate

I've looked at all sorts of things and I think a SD might be worth a try. If I find a constant roller coaster DKH battle than I'll switch to a conventional fuge.



I don't have a tank yet but I'm in the planning stages.

thanks all,

 

[Dennis Cartier]

I am not sure what you asking here. If you are asking can you flow the effluent of a sulphur denitrator through a secondary chamber with crushed coral / CalRX media? Sure you can do that. I have no idea what the DKH of the effluent leaving the secondary chamber will be. I doubt it will add significantly to the DKH of the tank, and any additional alkalinity that it does add, will come along with extra calcium. This will still leave the alkalinity out of balance due to the autotrophic denitrification consuming alkalinity in the process. Normally when nitrification takes place, alkalinity is consumed and that alkalinity is released back to the water column when the nitrate is broken down. One of the exceptions to this, is during autotrophic denitrification taking place inside a suplhur denitrator. The alkalinity is not returned to the water column in this case, and over time the alkalinity will need to be re-balanced against the calcium.

Dennis

 

[ca1ore]

You would have to search for it, but I recall a post from Randy Holmes Farley where he calculated that amount of alkalinity restored to the effluent from a sulfur reactor via the use of calcareous media. It was in one of the sulfur reactor threads. I do recall the conclusion that no amount of media would restore the alkalinity lost to the nitrification process. I run a sulfur reactor and it destroys nitrates (no affect on phosphates as I’ve seen some claim) but it does mess with alkalinity. If you goose your CaRx to compensate, you end up with calcium too high, which can also affect alkalinity levels via precipitation. You need to have the ability to dose alkalinity to keep things in balance. It IS a pain, and something that I have found requires regular adjustment, but to me it’s worthwhile for the niyratecreducing benefits. I also enjoy that slight smell of death in my fish room LOL.