First topic message reminder :

I just purchased a reactor for an experiment on nitrate reduction in freshwater aquaria. I got the idea from tweetyfish(Thanks). I have read that this can strip the tank of all the bacteria so it will be a long process. I am gonna start off with little flow and record. Once I see a pattern in numbers I can restrict or increase flow to adjust the levels in the tank. Video is uploading of the set up. To be continued.................

It's kind of like when you cycle a tank. All of a sudden it just seems to be working.

I took readings again

Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrates 10-15ppm
I am going to slow the flow down to as slow as I can get it. I will do one more 50% this Sunday and each week cut the percentage in half.

Great news!

I took readings again

Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrates 10ppm

My tank parameters are looking really good but my water is getting a little cloudy. I do not understand.

Sounds like the dead bacteria are getting flushed off of the pellets. I think they call it mulm or something like that. Just means they are really starting to work and should calm down once you get the final amount you need to control nitrates to the level you want.
I would go ahead and think about adding more if you want to lower the levels even more. You might be able to get your levels below 1 ppm. Mine have always run 0-.25 using the pellets.

Ok I might wait. Also I put the maxijet 1200 on it since the valve was wide open and not all pellets were suspended. I may have to tap into the return pump to get the flow I need if I add more pellets.

Might want to check your filter and make sure it's not getting stopped up with the water being cloudy. Depending on how much bacteria is getting rinsed off it could cause you to keep an eye on your filters for a while.

I have all my filters running top notch at the moment. Actually redid the return in the tank from the sump.

Did your bacteria bloom ever clear up?

A little late asking, but can I assume you have had no luck with the phosphate removing resins you place in the filter?

I have had some success but I am taking this one slow. I will be taking readings again tonight

I think phosphate is a big problem for the algae I get in my tanks (hair in some, diatoms in my brackish tank, brush in the 150) so I'm really interested in this thread. I'll also be trying some of the phosphate removing media in my smaller tanks and see what happens.

I can say this there is no algae in the tank, but there is 8 bn plecos.

How's everything going with the Bio pellets and nitrate reduction?