My unit has been up and running for a little over a week. I'm following Hormigaquatica's recommendations on setting the flow, which is basically to run the unit with no restriction on the flow for two weeks. Then, test the output water for nitrates. If the output is at or near zero, leave everything alone. Otherwise, close the valve and slow the flow a bit, and repeat.
I have to admit that this seems a bit counter-intuitive, since my flow seems rather high. It's a steady stream not a drip, and I wonder if anaerobic conditions will be able to establish in the sulfur canister.
Although it hasn't been two weeks, today I tested the reactor's efluent for nitrates and it read exactly the same as my tank water, somewhere between 25 and 50 ppm. I'm using a Salifert nitrate test kit, so it would seem that the Salifert kit reads only nitrate (not nitrite as well).
Your cloudiness is probably from the aragonite. I wouldn't worry about it unless it doesn't clear up in a day or two. I didn't rinse my media, but when I started it up I let it drain into a bucket until the efluent ran clear.
What sulfur media are you using? I got mine from midwest aquatics. They carry a high-purity sulfur pellet that is innoculated with the nitrate-eating bacteria. They are ball-bearing sized spheres that are supposed to resist clumping and compacting as the sulfur is consumed.
We shall see ;-)
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Originally posted by bgcook
got an email from filter guys the flow through the unit is bottom to top as you described it on your last post.
my unit is doing ok. i am out of town this week so my wife is taking care of the take. when i left the nitrates out of the unit had climbed to over 100. i slowed the drip to 30/min. my tank nitrates are at about 20. this will hopefully do the trick. i pm'ed randly holmes and he stated that the very high nitrates out of the effluent may be related to the test kit detecting nitrite as well (even worse). my wife reports the tank is doing well and all inhabitants are good. i will retest the tank friday night, at that time it will be about two weeks running.
i hope i don't regret taking that felt off. my thought was that since water was flowing up it would be less likely to get clogged.
additionally, the only thing i have noticed is that my water has a very slight cloudingness to it. i think it may be the argonite as i didn't rinse it since it appeared to be moist.
any thoughts??
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