CA reactor that works with Sulfur?

[jimmyreef]

http://mars.reefkeepers.net/USHomePage/USArticles/Zmiro/DenitratationSoufre.html

I guess the theory is the water travels through the sulfur and becomes acidic, then travels through the aragonite coming out charged with CA?

Well this is why I'm asking.... does anyone know how this really works? heard disaster, or success stories?

 

[jimmyreef]

Oops forgot.
If you do know of the reactor... Do you know the flow rate of water that should flow through the reactor?

 

[ReeferAl]

I have not heard from anyone using it although I saw an article about it a year or so ago. The sulfur reduces the nitrate to N2 gas and becomes oxidized in the process to SO3 (or SO2?) which forms sulfuric acid in water (or sulfurous acid in the case of SO2). This would then dissolve some of the aragonite. The downside is a slight excess of sulfate in the water over time although thix is one of the major anion constituents of seawater so this should not be a big deal. There is also a small amount of hydrogen sulfide produced, most of which would leave the water where it contacts the air in the overflow. The process occurs by the actions of anaeobic bacteria which take up residence in the sulfur column over time. That is my understanding of the process anyway. It should work although I don't know what the relative advantages/disadvantages are.
Allen

 

[Veng68]

It's called Autotrophic Sulfur Denitrification

Check out this thread:

Reef Central Thread

Reefs.Org thread

There is also an article in the FAMA Dec 2000 issue on the topic.

Cheers,
Veng68

 

[jimmyreef]

So probably not the way to go, unless I have alot of nitrates in the water. I guess knowing nothing about this I should just go the ca reactor route. Thanks all for your info.

 

[randy holmes-farley]

This device can possibly lower nitrates. It won't, however, appreciably raise (or maintain in a calcifying tank) calcium or alkalinity. There just isn't enough nitrate to reduce to create enough acid to dissolve enough calcium carbonate. This is easy to show mathematically (as I posted long ago but can't presently locate).