Nitrate Filter

[wow_it_esploded]

We got one of those canisters (clear, not rippled) from wallyworld and it leaked like a seive... Well, not that bad, but it leaked.

 

[CHOMPERS]

...So I should just, like you say, let it sit without any water moving in or out?.

No circulation is needed. You want it to be as anaerobic as possible. It needs to be covered but the hoses can be left open to allow for gassing off to occur.

I suppose I will fill a bucket up with water and let it sit for it to be depleted of oxygen.

Probably not. Something has to consume the oxygen.

I am also thinking that the very small amounts of hydrogen sulfide that are produced will get agitated out when it goes into the tank from the Fx5 since I have the output agitating the surface....?

agitation doesn't do anything for gas exchange. When it is in use, hydrogen sulfide shouldn't get produced due to the water flow.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Here you can see the barbed nozzels pointing outward as the cover is "bowing" because of the head pressure alone.

It shouldn't be bowing. The water flow should be so low through the denitrator that no bowing would be evident. Or is the material so thin/flexible that it is bowing with only static pressure? (no flow)

 

[CHOMPERS]

We got one of those canisters (clear, not rippled) from wallyworld and it leaked like a seive... Well, not that bad, but it leaked.

Bummer. We might have to work on that. Mine seals like a champ. Yours leaked for a reason, so the challenge is to figure out why. It is either a defective seal or non-uniform mating surfaces. Either are easily correctible if you kept the reciept. If the seal isn't thick enough, you buy a second one and double stack the seals. (keep the reciept because it will come in handy when you return the one without the seal )

 

[Jgray152]

It shouldn't be bowing. The water flow should be so low through the denitrator that no bowing would be evident. Or is the material so thin/flexible that it is bowing with only static pressure? (no flow)

The material is more flexible than your standard canisters. You have about 15 lbs of pressure under the lid which is a good amount, no where near the amount your standard canisters can take, The fx5 has over 190 lbs of pressure because of the surface area of the lid and the extra head.

I expected the bowing, just wasn't sure how much was going to occue.

agitation doesn't do anything for gas exchange. When it is in use, hydrogen sulfide shouldn't get produced due to the water flow.

Agitating the surface supplies oxygen to the water and releases Co2, correct? Because if not, I don't know how my fish are breathing . Both of which are gases. I have left my filter off for a long time (hours) because I would forget to open up the valve again after doing something, at I woudl see them gasping for air, I turn the filter on, agitate the surface, and they can breath again.

This is why I suggested agitating the surface would help. Unless you are thinking of something different.

I get confused with the different gases that get produced after denitrification. Nitrogen Gas is what is produced when there is flow correct?

 

[CHOMPERS]

The material is more flexible than your standard canisters. You have about 15 lbs of pressure under the lid which is a good amount, no where near the amount your standard canisters can take, The fx5 has over 190 lbs of pressure because of the surface area of the lid and the extra head.

How is it getting 15 lb of pressure? Something is clearly wrong. It shouldn't have more than half of a psi.

Agitating the surface supplies oxygen to the water and releases Co2, correct? Because if not, I don't know how my fish are breathing . Both of which are gases. I have left my filter off for a long time (hours) because I would forget to open up the valve again after doing something, at I woudl see them gasping for air, I turn the filter on, agitate the surface, and they can breath again.

No, agitation has nothing to do with gas exchange. If enough people repeat bad information enough, the physics aren't going to change to accomodate the ignorant. The end result is you still have a bunch of people regurgitating bad information.

The gas exchange occurs at the surface through diffusion. When the pump is shut off, there isn't any circulation so the oxygen isn't carried to the bottom of the tank. That is why the fish go to the surface to gasp at the top millimeters of water. Diffusion through the water is too slow to oxygenate an aquarium, but in large bodies of water such as lakes, this is exactly what happens.

I get confused with the different gases that get produced after denitrification. Nitrogen Gas is what is produced when there is flow correct?

Depends on the bacteria, but typically anaerobic respiration is predominantly oxygen and nitrogen.

 

[Jgray152]

How is it getting 15 lb of pressure? Something is clearly wrong. It shouldn't have more than half of a psi.

You are right, there is about .53 psi. The cover is about 25 sq/in which equals 13.5 lbs of static pressure. I was a bit off with 15lbs. I think you may have been confusing pounds of pressure with pounds per sqaure inch. I know I do all the time.

No, agitation has nothing to do with gas exchange. If enough people repeat bad information enough, the physics aren't going to change to accomodate the ignorant. The end result is you still have a bunch of people regurgitating bad information.

The gas exchange occurs at the surface through diffusion. When the pump is shut off, there isn't any circulation so the oxygen isn't carried to the bottom of the tank. That is why the fish go to the surface to gasp at the top millimeters of water. Diffusion through the water is too slow to oxygenate an aquarium, but in large bodies of water such as lakes, this is exactly what happens.

Darn, now you get technical . I always read that it was due to the agitation of the water's surface. I think I read something from you a while back saying the same thing, I could be wrong. I also read somewhere that the air bubbles don't do much untill they agitate the surface....?

So, what your saying, is, as long as I have water circulating in my tank and not agitating the surface, there will be oxygen...?

Depends on the bacteria, but typically anaerobic respiration is predominantly oxygen and nitrogen.

I read there is two types of anaerobic bacteria. Ones that thrive on inorganic carbon and ones that thrive on organic carbon. Im guessing each of these produce something different?

 

[Jgray152]

Some Short Videos.

Canister Finish Purge

Canister Purged

 

[Jgray152]

To jump start the denitrator, empty it and clean some filters (sponges are best). Pour the dirty water in the denitrator, top it off and then just let it sit for a week or two. Give it a piece of shrimp or some fishfood to keep it going but don't open it to give it more food. At the end of the "cycle" period, it should smell really putrid. That is a good thing. Anaerobic activity doesn't smell nice. Aerobic activity has the cleaner smell, which is what you don't want. Contrary to what is passed around on the boards, a lot of bacteria can go from aerobic conditions to anaerobic and back to aerobic without missing a beat. This method of cycling will encourage the growth of those bacteria

I emptied some of my Fx5 filter junk into the canister and I also added 4 cubes of frozen blood worms. Its now sitting with no flow (ball valve closed).

 

[Jgray152]

The Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all very high in the canister right now. Smells horrible too