The Deltec Nitrate Reactors been running since 23rd February, although I did a reset and added a whole 100ml bottle of Seachem Stability 5th March
At the time it was showing nitrates higher than the tank level as clearly the bacteria within the unit were still aerobic rather than the anerobic ones we need when the oxygen within the water is depleted These are the ones than turn nitrate into nitrogen gas within the reactor and hence lower the nitrate levels.
So 5th March I gave it a boost of bacteria, switched the water flow through it off to allow oxygen to be used up and tested today 5 days later. The nitrate coming out is now zero which is what we need.
So the idea is we turn the flow through it up very slowly. It was started at 1ml/min which is about 1 drop every 3 seconds (the Kamoer FX STP2 is very accurate and ideal for this task) so I’ve turned the flow up to 2ml/min.
The idea is to leave it another few days, test and if nitrate is zero, turn it up again by no more than 1/3 and repeat with a target of around 37-50ml/min to turn the tank water over around every 28 days or so depending on levels. If nitrate shows, dont turn it up and leave it for a few more days to catch up.This may take a few months but that’s the idea. Although the volume/minute is relatively small, it’s running 24/7 so will soon add up once it gets going.
Just to remind you what we’re talking about here you go