Sulphur denitrator not staying steady

[wotis11]

I’m trying to cycle a sulphur denitrator. I have the output dripping one drop every second to second and a half. The orp gets down to between -125 to -140 and goes back up to -90 every time. It’s done it four times already since I’ve had it set up. Is there anything I can do to stop that from happening? Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[KrisReef]

My ignorance on the subject is close to -10, but I would presume that negative orp is on the correct side of the scale of the reactor is working? I’m not sure what the fluctuation in negative territory would indicate a distinction rather than that it is not faced with a steady workload during operations.
Eager to see what more informed folk have to say.

 

[wotis11]

Nobody??

 

[Sean Clark]

When the nitrates are higher the ORP in the reactor will be higher. It has to do with the biological process. As the nitrates come down the ORP in the reactor will come down.

How long has it been back up and running at that flow rate?

Here you can see how my reactor ORP fluctuates with feedings and is inversely correlated with the ORP of the tank water.
NegORP is in the reactor
PosORP is the tank

Edit: I forgot to include the feedings.

 

[wotis11]

When the nitrates are higher the ORP in the reactor will be higher. It has to do with the biological process. As the nitrates come down the ORP in the reactor will come down.

How long has it been back up and running at that flow rate?

Here you can see how my reactor ORP fluctuates with feedings and is inversely correlated with the ORP of the tank water.
NegORP is in the reactor
PosORP is the tank

Edit: I forgot to include the feedings.

Thank you. Now I understand. I never thought to compare it to the orp of the tank

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

What kind of feed pump are you using?

 

[wotis11]

What kind of feed pump are you using?

I’m running it off a manifold from my return pump. My return is a Cor20. I have the tee reduced down to 1/2” with a flow sensor. It says I’m running 5gph out of the manifold but then it’s down 1 drop every two seconds with a needle valve

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Great sounds like you have that covered well, the feed pump can be a source of frustration if not sorted correctly.

 

[wotis11]

Great sounds like you have that covered well, the feed pump can be a source of frustration if not sorted correctly.

I think I’m on the right track. Last night the orp in the reactor got down to -170 for the first time and the effluent coming out of the reactor tested 0 nitrates so I upped the flow to 1 drop every second

 

[ReeferBud]

ORP will constantly move around. Don’t try to chase it. Just try to find the range where it’s working and doesn’t get clogged and let it do it’s thing.

 

[wotis11]

ORP will constantly move around. Don’t try to chase it. Just try to find the range where it’s working and doesn’t get clogged and let it do it’s thing.

I got it now. The orp went up to -90 when I upped the flow to 1 drop a second and it’s already dropping and is back down to -110. I’m pretty sure I’m on the right track now

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Getting that flow is critical too much you wash away all that you wanted to slow and it is bad (rotten egg) smell. If that remove reactor and flush outside and restart.

 

[wotis11]

Getting that flow is critical too much you wash away all that you wanted to slow and it is bad (rotten egg) smell. If that remove reactor and flush outside and restart.

I read that. I did a bunch of research about them before I implemented it on my tank. I just couldn’t find any info on why the orp kept dropping like that. But I’m on the right track now. I’m almost ready to up the flow on it again.