Just wanted to share a really cheap solution for creating what in theory from my understanding and opinion, a better environment to make better use of this media. The target is to lower nitrate levels in my tank. If you don't know how these products work, do visit their website to read up. This was inspired by Bro Tuna and the ideas the have been throwing back and forth.
The first step is a 150L pump, the smallest I could easily find. This runs to a 4L bucket of Seachem Matrix. The matrix has been washed and put into a net bag for convenience. As for the bucket, 1 hole was made on the lid for the hose from the pump to enter and 3 smaller holes on the highest part to the bucket itself just big enough to fit in 3 air tubes. These are for the water to flow out. First I run the hose from the pump all the way to the bottom of the bucket, then the matrix is added in. Once the water has filled the bucket, a little priming might be needed for the air tubes to get the outflow flowing from all 3. A control valve is then added to one of these outflow tubes.
The function of the first stage is mainly to cultivate the aerobic BB which converts ammonia into nitrite, then from nitrite to nitrate. While it is doing this, it eats up oxygen in the process which is the main function of this stage. Basically we want to remove as much oxygen as possible before the second stage.
Now onto the second stage, same 4L bucket but this time filled with Seachem De*nitrate. I made a smaller hole on the lid this time to run an air tube. This air tube is then connected to the control valve from the first stage, from here I limit the flow further with the control valve to achieve a dripping speed. A second hole is then added at the side of the bucket and a air tube is inserted. This will act as the outflow. The De*nitrate is then added in and the whole system primed.
The purpose of the second stage is to cultivate Anaerobic BB which grows in minimal oxygen environments. The Anaerobic BB then coverts nitrate to a harmless byproduct.
For now, it is working like a traditional denitrator with outflow speed roughly around 1 to 3 drops per sec. But in a big tank like mine, the turn over rate is way too slow plus the possibility of hydrogen sulfide building up is high. Which is why once the media is matured, I will increase the flow to maybe 10gallons/hr. Thats abt 120 to 150% of my tank volume per day. This is the main reason why I use Seachem De*nitrate instead of other medias. It is suppose to work as an anaerobic media as long as the flow is lower then 50gallons/hr.
Things to note.
-I was actually inspired more by the Totto system where aerobic BB is used to create a low oxygen environment for anaerobic BB so grow.
- This system is created for the second stage to be used with Seachem de*nitrate media. Any other media might not have the same effectiveness. Seachem's instruction was to have lower then 200L/h flow for De*nitrate to work as an media for anaerobic BB to cultivate. The idea is that the outer surface of the media is design to cultivate aerobic bb by the time it reaches the core, it should have no oxygen as the aerobic bb has used it all, the core then will cultivate anaerobic bb. So in Theory, I'm creating an environment best used for this media.
- I'm using the buckets because I haven't found a container which I want to use. They can be replaced with whatever container you think will work. I just didn't want to spend money on something I 'm not happy with and is most likely going to take a lot more time to D.I.Y. I set this up in under an hr with the total cost for the piping and pump for less then $10 excluding media.
This might not be the idea system by a long shot, and I hope if anyone tries it out will share how they improved on it. Thanks.
[video=youtube;Mk1EKxMONt8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1EKxMONt8[/video]
The first step is a 150L pump, the smallest I could easily find. This runs to a 4L bucket of Seachem Matrix. The matrix has been washed and put into a net bag for convenience. As for the bucket, 1 hole was made on the lid for the hose from the pump to enter and 3 smaller holes on the highest part to the bucket itself just big enough to fit in 3 air tubes. These are for the water to flow out. First I run the hose from the pump all the way to the bottom of the bucket, then the matrix is added in. Once the water has filled the bucket, a little priming might be needed for the air tubes to get the outflow flowing from all 3. A control valve is then added to one of these outflow tubes.
The function of the first stage is mainly to cultivate the aerobic BB which converts ammonia into nitrite, then from nitrite to nitrate. While it is doing this, it eats up oxygen in the process which is the main function of this stage. Basically we want to remove as much oxygen as possible before the second stage.
Now onto the second stage, same 4L bucket but this time filled with Seachem De*nitrate. I made a smaller hole on the lid this time to run an air tube. This air tube is then connected to the control valve from the first stage, from here I limit the flow further with the control valve to achieve a dripping speed. A second hole is then added at the side of the bucket and a air tube is inserted. This will act as the outflow. The De*nitrate is then added in and the whole system primed.
The purpose of the second stage is to cultivate Anaerobic BB which grows in minimal oxygen environments. The Anaerobic BB then coverts nitrate to a harmless byproduct.
For now, it is working like a traditional denitrator with outflow speed roughly around 1 to 3 drops per sec. But in a big tank like mine, the turn over rate is way too slow plus the possibility of hydrogen sulfide building up is high. Which is why once the media is matured, I will increase the flow to maybe 10gallons/hr. Thats abt 120 to 150% of my tank volume per day. This is the main reason why I use Seachem De*nitrate instead of other medias. It is suppose to work as an anaerobic media as long as the flow is lower then 50gallons/hr.
Things to note.
-I was actually inspired more by the Totto system where aerobic BB is used to create a low oxygen environment for anaerobic BB so grow.
- This system is created for the second stage to be used with Seachem de*nitrate media. Any other media might not have the same effectiveness. Seachem's instruction was to have lower then 200L/h flow for De*nitrate to work as an media for anaerobic BB to cultivate. The idea is that the outer surface of the media is design to cultivate aerobic bb by the time it reaches the core, it should have no oxygen as the aerobic bb has used it all, the core then will cultivate anaerobic bb. So in Theory, I'm creating an environment best used for this media.
- I'm using the buckets because I haven't found a container which I want to use. They can be replaced with whatever container you think will work. I just didn't want to spend money on something I 'm not happy with and is most likely going to take a lot more time to D.I.Y. I set this up in under an hr with the total cost for the piping and pump for less then $10 excluding media.
This might not be the idea system by a long shot, and I hope if anyone tries it out will share how they improved on it. Thanks.
[video=youtube;Mk1EKxMONt8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1EKxMONt8[/video]
