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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:18 AM   #26
djfrankie
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Quote:
Originally posted by wizsmaster
Yes, very much so. Which one are you using? API?


Which Nitrate test is everybody using here?
I'm using API and Salifert. I haven't notice any difference between the two and both kits are less than 1 month old.

djfrankie


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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:29 AM   #27
Bruno3047
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Thanks much for your response, DJ.

Yes, the tank will be a new set-up.

I have one other quick question. With no recirc pump, is the valve on the out-gas necessary? Could I just install a 6" or so piece of rigid airline tubing out the top of the unit to de-gas continuously?

In this way, I could use the input and outputs on the phos-ban unit as they are. I welcome your thoughts.

TIA





I'm tagging alon to seee how your


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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:32 AM   #28
Bruno3047
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Never finished that last thought.

I'm tagging along to see how you do with your experiments.

Thanks again.


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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:32 AM   #29
djfrankie
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bruno3047
Thanks much for your response, DJ.

Yes, the tank will be a new set-up.

I have one other quick question. With no recirc pump, is the valve on the out-gas necessary? Could I just install a 6" or so piece of rigid airline tubing out the top of the unit to de-gas continuously?

In this way, I could use the input and outputs on the phos-ban unit as they are. I welcome your thoughts.

TIA







I'm tagging alon to seee how your
As long as that airline is higher than your systems waterline it will be ok. Otherwise, you'll drain your tank

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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:41 AM   #30
Bruno3047
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I guess I should have known that.

That's 2 I owe you.

Tks.


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Unread 05/30/2008, 01:46 AM   #31
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OK. Last question, I promise.

So I could use the input and output elbows on the Phosban unit as they are, but I would have to install a short standpipe or nipple coming out the top of the unit with a valve at the end?


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Unread 05/30/2008, 04:13 AM   #32
djfrankie
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bruno3047
OK. Last question, I promise.

So I could use the input and output elbows on the Phosban unit as they are, but I would have to install a short standpipe or nipple coming out the top of the unit with a valve at the end?
That should work. Check out Steve's unit for some ideas. I believe his unit is working pretty good.

You can use a John Guest or similar valve on the degassing line since it allows for quick opening / closing.

Have fun!

djfrankie

ps. I'll be out of town for the weekend.


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Unread 05/30/2008, 09:51 AM   #33
EnderG60
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Quote:
Originally posted by djfrankie
I'm using API and Salifert. I haven't notice any difference between the two and both kits are less than 1 month old.

djfrankie
interesting. when I though my nitrates were 0 on the API kit I tested it with my seachem kit and it showed 2-4.

Seems like for 10 and under the seachem is better, and 10 and over the API is better.

But even with the seachem kit anything between .5-2 is hard to read.

Man I hate color charts, must increase income and get digital testers


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Unread 05/30/2008, 09:56 AM   #34
wizsmaster
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LaMotte makes a sweet digital field tester ... tests up to 16 different parameters i think


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Unread 05/30/2008, 09:56 AM   #35
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Thank You saltydog. I was unaware of that, and my reading was direct. Good to know!


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Unread 05/30/2008, 10:10 AM   #36
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My effluent from denitrator gives <1ppm on NO3 after 3 days w/ 1 dps. It was 50ppm after 1day and 40ppm after the second day. I'll wait for 12hours and will bump it to 2dps. Everything is working well so far.


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Unread 05/30/2008, 06:38 PM   #37
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COngrats Reef_only!!!


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Unread 05/30/2008, 06:50 PM   #38
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one thing i noticed is that now i get WAY less gass building up... i am still at 1dps and no recirc pump for the moment..


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Unread 05/30/2008, 06:56 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally posted by Black71gp
one thing i noticed is that now i get WAY less gass building up... i am still at 1dps and no recirc pump for the moment..
Hang in there


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Unread 05/30/2008, 07:11 PM   #40
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What is the white slime that forms when the reactor is not adjusted right?



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Unread 05/31/2008, 07:43 AM   #41
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Quote:
Originally posted by wizsmaster
Thank You saltydog. I was unaware of that, and my reading was direct. Good to know!
wiz.........Your very welcome and continued good luck with your project.

A quick thought on the LaMotte Nitrate kit, as you know the range(s) on it is : 0.25 0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 and 10.0 Nitrate-Nitrogen, now your tank @ 0.25 is great, but what do we do when our tanks are outside these ranges ? we can use the LaMotte kit to determine higher Nitrates by simply diluting the sample with Nitrate free water such distilled water, for example let's say our tank water is over 44.0 ppm(the limit of the kit) and we still want use it, what you do is take, for example, 10 cc of the tank water and add 90 cc of distilled water for 100 cc total. You know have a 10% sample, test it, we get let's say 4.0 on scale, to determine actual Nitrate we would do the math... 4.0 X 10 X 4.4 = 176 ppm.

Now keep in mind this procedure is only as accurate as the care taken in the prep of the sample(s) but it works and still allows us to use our LaMotte kits in these higher ranges, hopefully you will never be in that range, but trust me, there are those who are, me for example


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Unread 05/31/2008, 08:02 AM   #42
wizsmaster
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Great info - Thanks!

Do you use the full line on LaMotte tests?

I just picked up the Nitrate, Calcium & Alk tests .. have had the Phosphate one for a while.
The Calcium is the only one that stinks, since it needs distilled water for the test.


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Unread 05/31/2008, 08:59 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally posted by Steven M
What is the white slime that forms when the reactor is not adjusted right?
I'm sure that you know it is a form of bacteria, which one, is a good guess ?

I noticed that you are mixing the sulfur & ARM media together.
If so, I can only guess that the sulfur, can not act as a full strength biological separate media in mass. The ARM is to buffer the effluent only, & a good chance causing your problem being mixed in with the sulfur.

Doing the research on several commercially sold units, you will find that each media has a separate mass volume within the reactor

JMO, but I think that it is something to consider.

Good Luck

Steve




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Unread 05/31/2008, 03:36 PM   #44
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Steve; nice theory. Seems like a good one.

Speaking of theories. I have been thinking on the mush angle. Since all this pelletized sulfur claims to be 99.x% pure I honestly can't see how one can be different from the next. You couldn't put some binder in, for instance and still have that kind of purity.

I think the mush people are getting is because they are allowing the sulfur to move. In short order it grinds itself to mush and that leads to clogged outlets too.


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Unread 05/31/2008, 03:53 PM   #45
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Quote:
Originally posted by kcress
Steve; nice theory. Seems like a good one.

Speaking of theories. I have been thinking on the mush angle. Since all this pelletized sulfur claims to be 99.x% pure I honestly can't see how one can be different from the next. You couldn't put some binder in, for instance and still have that kind of purity.

I think the mush people are getting is because they are allowing the sulfur to move. In short order it grinds itself to mush and that leads to clogged outlets too.
Possible, But I believe that the peletized media is formed under pressure to compact the sulfur to it's size. The compacted media will allow less dispersion & dilution. One reason to using the pelletized media is to prevent chanelling, which seems to be a problem with the LSM media, & the higher rate of dispersion ( melting) with it.

Steve






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Unread 05/31/2008, 03:59 PM   #46
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I had an interesting extra to throw in. I had a sales rep out with a colorimeter a few weeks ago and one of the only tests she had with her was a sulfide test. I tested my water and the sulfide was through the roof... can't remember the exact amount but enough to significantly worry me. I tested it again a couple of weeks ago after the reactor had been offline for a few weeks and it had dropped significantly.

Just thought I would mention that. Obviously some of the media was making it back into my tank even though it wasn't fluidized and therefore rubbing up against itself.

Just thought i would throw that in there as its something I never test and had the opportunity to.


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Unread 05/31/2008, 04:03 PM   #47
Steve 926
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What media were you using in you reactor.?



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Unread 05/31/2008, 05:06 PM   #48
Bruno3047
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Suilfide in the form that it would exist in the SW aquarium would be in the form of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), the presence of which is accompanied by a distinct smell of rotten eggs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide

So, unless your house smells of rotton eggs, I wouldn't worry.

Tell your sales rep to throw out the rest of her sulfide test reagents. They're obviously expired.


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Unread 05/31/2008, 05:30 PM   #49
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so since i added all the new sulfur should I run my recirc pump or not? with out it running i get VERY little gas build up.. with it running I get lots of gas build up???


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Unread 05/31/2008, 05:47 PM   #50
ReefingBuddha
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aqua medic media


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