Part 6 - How the unit works:
A denitrator is a very simple device, and sometimes bio-media is added to the first four or five columns of the flat-denitrator types, to produce a larger bacteria colony for the nitrosominos and nitrobacter to do their thing.
Basically, as the water follows its journey through the system, the beneficial bacteria colonizes and begins to work. I don't need to get into how a wet/dry works, but the principle is the same for the first part of your denitrator. As the flow continues and oxygen is depleted, other beneficial bacteria take over, they are neither aerobic nor anaerobic, they are facultatively aerobic/anaerobic, commonly called nitrate respirators, sort of in limbo, not very technical but who cares. Once the oxygen is exhausted, this section of the denitrator becomes anaerobic and then these little bacteria guys take over and eat the nitrates produced by the aerobic bacteria in the preceeding stages. It is beneficial to have as much facultatively aerobic/anaerobic bacteria as possible. That is why you adjust your denitrator so that these little guys populate almost to the end of the line.
There is one bad part about denitrators, their effluent is hydrogen sulfide, if I remember my chemistry right. One of the purposes of the re-oxygenation part of the unit is to not only kill the anaerobic bacteria that escapes the system, but also to burn off much of the hydrogen sulfide. In a properly flowing system, you shouldn't notice any hydrogen sulfide, if your system is running way to slow, you will notice and smell it, like an old rotton egg. In such a case, you can increase the flow just a tad. The addition of an air supply to the effluent before introduction to the tank is also beneficial.
Usually the effluent from a denitrator is fed so that it goes through the sump and/or protein skimmer before being reintroduced to the tank. The only reason for putting it through the protein skimmer is for oxygenation. If your sump has a large surface area and your wet/dry is above the water line and the water splashes into the sump, the effluent can be put directly into your sump.
Thanks for bearing with me, I may have repeated myself several times, messed up on the grammar quite a bit and wore your eyeballs out with the reading, but the systems are good and work just great.
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
raiar@inlink.com
Document Revision Date 2/26/98 Applicable To This Page Only
A denitrator is a very simple device, and sometimes bio-media is added to the first four or five columns of the flat-denitrator types, to produce a larger bacteria colony for the nitrosominos and nitrobacter to do their thing.
Basically, as the water follows its journey through the system, the beneficial bacteria colonizes and begins to work. I don't need to get into how a wet/dry works, but the principle is the same for the first part of your denitrator. As the flow continues and oxygen is depleted, other beneficial bacteria take over, they are neither aerobic nor anaerobic, they are facultatively aerobic/anaerobic, commonly called nitrate respirators, sort of in limbo, not very technical but who cares. Once the oxygen is exhausted, this section of the denitrator becomes anaerobic and then these little bacteria guys take over and eat the nitrates produced by the aerobic bacteria in the preceeding stages. It is beneficial to have as much facultatively aerobic/anaerobic bacteria as possible. That is why you adjust your denitrator so that these little guys populate almost to the end of the line.
There is one bad part about denitrators, their effluent is hydrogen sulfide, if I remember my chemistry right. One of the purposes of the re-oxygenation part of the unit is to not only kill the anaerobic bacteria that escapes the system, but also to burn off much of the hydrogen sulfide. In a properly flowing system, you shouldn't notice any hydrogen sulfide, if your system is running way to slow, you will notice and smell it, like an old rotton egg. In such a case, you can increase the flow just a tad. The addition of an air supply to the effluent before introduction to the tank is also beneficial.
Usually the effluent from a denitrator is fed so that it goes through the sump and/or protein skimmer before being reintroduced to the tank. The only reason for putting it through the protein skimmer is for oxygenation. If your sump has a large surface area and your wet/dry is above the water line and the water splashes into the sump, the effluent can be put directly into your sump.
Thanks for bearing with me, I may have repeated myself several times, messed up on the grammar quite a bit and wore your eyeballs out with the reading, but the systems are good and work just great.
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.
raiar@inlink.com
Document Revision Date 2/26/98 Applicable To This Page Only
