Nitrate reactor

[JRT]

Have decided on a plan for a nitrate reactor.
Shall be using a 30metre coil of 6mmID 12mmOD Clear reinforced hose teed off from the return from the end of my inline filter system (3 eheims) so by the time the water gets to the nitrate reactor it should already be low in oxygen.
This will be for a 6x2x2 tank

 

[The Mohave Kid]

I don't know what to think

but if you are going to do it you should get an Oxygen meter to test your set ups ability to remove O2 .... then you don't have to guess

I'm thinking of getting the same size tank !!

Good Day ... B)

 

[kenneth_kpe]

what design is a nitrate reactor ? im just curius did a google and couldnt find much ? : )

 

[Lateral Line]

Anærobic nitrate reactors are not difficult to build, but are as hard as hell to get and keep stable. The flow rate needs to be very low, and the bacteria need either an organic carbon source or more commonly these days, a sulphur source.

A good one on a domestic scale will typically denitrate only a few liters an hour.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

am i thinking on the same line ?? what if you use fast growing plants or floating plants like duck weed, lots of em and everything else place it in a sump type container and let the water flow there ? is that a nitrate reactor ?

 

[Lateral Line]

No, not what the OP has in mind anyway.

Biological anærobic denitrators use an Oxygen free environment to promote the growth of bacteria which convert nitrate ultimately to molecular Nitrogen. These require additional "feeding". In the past, an organic carbon source, (commonly vodka), was used, but Sulphur based cycles are somewhat easier to get started, although more difficult to keep stable. This type of reactor is normally charecterised by a very long coil of tubing filled with a small amount of media through which water travels VERY SLOWLY, eventually dripping back into the tank or sump.

Another approach, also anærobic is autotrophic Sulphur reactors. These use Sulphuric acid, and will add Sulphur salts to the water. Many of the more modern commercially available denitrators are of this type. They are used more often of marine tanks where the Sulphur is not regarded as a problem, (seawater naturally containing Sulphur salts). These reactors are much more compact but again, usually take a very small flow rate, (a few liters an hour), and drip into the sump.

A brightly illuminated algae tank, (often lit from below as well as above), would probably be at least as efficient, but you'd probably need to put a UV between it's output and the tank.

 

[JRT]

Have been thinking about making an algae filter using lots of thin plate of glass with the water flowing through them with lighting either side and on top.
But why a UV on the return??

 

[Lateral Line]

I'd use a UV to make sure any algal chunks or spores are killed before entering the tank. Just what I would do.

In practice, it would depend a lot on you rig. It wouldn't work for me as I keep my nutrient balance tilted away from algae. I'd need to adjust my entire regime to allow algal growth. If I did that, then since I inject my CO2 into the filter train an algal reactor would deplete it before it got into my tank thus negating it's value.

My mate Bob has a reactor of this type in his sump setup, it is basically a 36x8x8 tank with lamps all around it. It's always full of crud but it demostrably reduces his nitrates.

When considering such a design, remember that a lot of thin plates covered with algae will prevent light travelling far into your reactor to any depth. An interesting approach may be to use a fluidised bed with a high flow rate keeping algae covered particles suspended in bright light..... sorry, thinking on my feet here.