Denitrator built into a sump?

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J

Jgray152

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Dec 23, 2006
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So I have been drawing a few designs. I don't know exactly what flow with what volume of media is needed since the info varys from person to person. Anyone know? I have heard 1-5 GPH and I heard that flow rate is at a given volume of media.

The design I have been thinking of (picture to come soon), is to have a sump tank divided in half vertically length wise. One side will have a high flow rate with water trickling down through the media at a high flow rate while the other side has the flow going in reverse. The flow starts at the bottom through 3-6 holes at 3/16" and very slowly fills the chamber with water till it starts to come out the through the other end at the top. Both Aerobic and Anerobic bacteria chambers will flow into the same pump chamber but will be completly seporated from each other.

Anyone try this?

If any of you know anything about the flow rate and/or volume of media for denitrators, please let me know.

A 30 gallon sump will hold about 37 liters of anerobic media and 30 liters of aerobic media. A 55 gallon sump could hold roughly 65 liters of anerobic media and 57 liters of aerobic media. At those volumes, I think I can get about 5-10gph out of the denitrator side????
 
Havn't decided on media. I havn't even looked really. Just in the "drawing" stage at the moment.

I'll do some finishing touches to the picture and upload it.
 
ok. Don't laugh at the pic. I can draw on paper better. A little rusty when it comes to MS Paint.

THe picture consists of two angles. Top view and side view.

The 3/16" tubing is not shown but it if I were to use the tubing, it would be siliconed along the bottom of the denitrate chamber to allow the aerobic bacteria to deplete the O2. I think there might be enough volume though to do without. I suppose its would be good though, to help control the flow.

This pic is sort of representing a 55 gallon sump. The input to the mechanical and aerobic bacteria capartment would be 6" wide. Should be enough to handle a good high flow rate.
biosump.jpg
 
Well if I do decide to go with a sump filtration and decide to do this, it won't be for a long time.
 
I have been looking at a couple nitrate filters and it seems you don't need much media to do the job.

This nitrate reactor at Drs Foster and Smith only has a(calculting by dimensions and looks of the picture) 13 liter media compartment. Could be less.

They also say it filters up to 500 gallons. I know manufactures practice specification inflation but this gets me thinking. I am going to look at other filters as well.
 
just add a area of lavarock and never ever touch it...
 
just add a area of lavarock and never ever touch it...
Click to expand...

Why lava rock? Anaerobic bacteria required for Nitrate processing requires a zero oxygen environment which means you need to build a section with very little flow, very little to none, surface agitation.

I may use Deniballs which provide a food source for the bacteria to help them process the nitrate.

Also, I never touch any bio media. Bio media should not have to be touched or moved when performing maintenance.
 
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