NF509 nitrate reactor connections | The Aquarium Solution

NF509 nitrate reactor connections

Question:

Hi Tony,

Sorry to be a pain but could I just clarify something about the set up.

If you place the recirculation pump on the floor with the power lead to the right and look from the left there are two tubes attached to the u bend. The first is a grey plastic tube the second has a black rubber tube with a red top on/off valve. Does the alcohol goe to the one with this on/off valve?

On the two diagrams it shows the rubber valve on the first tube but it is on the second tube on my unit. On the manual diagram you attach the water supply to the first tube but on the automatic you attach the alcohol supply to this tube. Does it make a difference which tube you use?

The diagrams for the fully automatic seem to show the water supply using a valve as well. Do you need to add one?

Sorry again for this but having a few problems with the tank at the moment and dont want to make things worse.

Thanks.

Stefan.

Answer:

Hi again

You are correct in the sense that it doesn't matter which of the connections on the 90 degree elbow you use as they both run into the elbow. Although the carbon feed will need to go into the non return valve and the water water feed will need to go into the red control valve inlet. As i say though these could be at either location as they run to the same elbow.

In fully automatic mode you will require two water feeds split from the same pump, both will need control valves. One will supply a slow feed to the reactor and the other will be controlled via a redox controller and an additional solenoid. When the controller detects a change in redox it will actuate the solenoid and either turn the second feed off or on depending if the reactor needs less or more water though it to maintain redox levels . You will need a tap installed on this outlet as if too much water is allowed in too quickly it will upset the internal redox so it will need to be adjusted to the correct rate for a slow change in redox swing to either end of the controllers on/off set points rather than a gush of extra water or a dribble that's not enough to effect the redox.

I would personally go with the semi automatic mode at first and if you find you need the water feed automated via a redox controller at a later date you can add this. The reactor should work well in semi automatic mode as long as you take the time to set it up correctly initially and get a constant drip rate through the reactor. If this is erratic the redox levels will go up and down inside the reactor and upset the low oxygen environment and Nitrate reduction.

Hope this helps

Regards Tony