Another biopellet thread

[ripped tide]

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">Bio pellets - YouTube</div><iframe style="width: 70%; height: 400px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_d0oLkcqYuM"></iframe>

Just set up.

Using ~200ml for ~100gallons.

Judging by the video, are they moving too fast?

Has anyone had them running for a year or longer?

If you ran them for a while and then stopped, why?

Do you run gfo?


Any tips or pointers?

I am using a sea systems ssr-200 that has been modded with a cooking funnel. Now I have the equivalent of the reef octopus bio pellet cone reactor.

 

[mvm]

I would add more and slow the flow a little at first.

 

[mvm]

Nice mod. I saw that but was too last to try it. This video has changed my mind.

 

[ripped tide]

Thanks Matt. With the funnel, it even turns it at a very slow rate.

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">Slower biopellets - YouTube</div>

Is this a better rate? I'll add another 100ml in two weeks and then 100ml a week from then.

 

[dawgface]

Perfect.

 

[ripped tide]

I am still running gfo for now. I added some microbacter 7. And will probably do so in a week or so.

 

[nholderried65]

looks good told you it would work.

 

[lilrobb]

Mind to explain the mod, pls?

 

[mvm]

LilRobb;730379 wrote: Mind to explain the mod, pls?

Pretty simple. Take a funnel, cut the spout end off and trim to fit. Make the hole large enough so that the pipe in the reactor can still seat itself in the bottom of the reactor. All the funnel does is create a swirl to better tumble the pellets. Make sense?

 

[mvm]

Is that correct, Dylan?

 

[rdnelson]

Hope you guys don't mine my jumping in and asking some noobe questions. I have seen lots of threads about bio-pelets and gfo but have no idea of the purpose or what gfo and bio-pellets are. If any of you have the time or desire to give a bit of an explanation I would appreciate it.

 

[ripped tide]

MvM;730404 wrote: Is that correct, Dylan?

Yep! I have also noticed that you can get a decent tumble at much slower flow rate. This reactor is plumbed into my main return pump, so slow flow is no issue, but I feel like I could have gotten away with a much smaller pump.

You pretty much explained exactly what I did with the funnel. I just trimmed it down to size with a drimmel, and dropped it in.

Edit:

rdnelson99;730408 wrote: Hope you guys don't mine my jumping in and asking some noobe questions. I have seen lots of threads about bio-pelets and gfo but have no idea of the purpose or what gfo and bio-pellets are. If any of you have the time or desire to give a bit of an explanation I would appreciate it.

Bio pellets, vodka, sugar and vinegar are all very popular forms of adding a bio available carbon source to your aquarium. The carbon acts as an energy source for planktonic bacteria that consume nitrate and phosphate.

Gfo(granulated ferric oxide) bonds with phosphate.

Everyone's goal is to have as little no3 and po4 as possible. I chose biopellets because I wanted a carbon source that involved "less maintainance.". Gfo worked great for removing phosphate, but is messy to change.

Adding vodka or another liquid carbon source works great as long as you remember to do it.

The biopellets need to be topped off every three to six months, but that is no where near as often as gfo(weekly) and vodka(daily).

Edit: Biopellets are a Bio-degradable plastic polymer. I figured knowing what they are helps understand the use.

Bacteria grows on te surface, consuming the pellet. The tumble motion knocks off the bacteria, and the skimmer removes it.

 

[haninja]

Which pallets are you using?

 

[rdnelson]

Ripped Tide;730423 wrote:
Bio pellets, vodka, sugar and vinegar are all very popular forms of adding a bio available carbon source to your aquarium. The carbon acts as an energy source for planktonic bacteria that consume nitrate and phosphate.

Gfo(granulated ferric oxide) bonds with phosphate.

Everyone's goal is to have as little no3 and po4 as possible. I chose biopellets because I wanted a carbon source that involved "less maintainance.". Gfo worked great for removing phosphate, but is messy to change.

Adding vodka or another liquid carbon source works great as long as you remember to do it.

The biopellets need to be topped off every three to six months, but that is no where near as often as gfo(weekly) and vodka(daily).

Edit: Biopellets are a Bio-degradable plastic polymer. I figured knowing what they are helps understand the use.

Bacteria grows on te surface, consuming the pellet. The tumble motion knocks off the bacteria, and the skimmer removes it.

Great explanation. Thank you very much. "Adding vodka or another liquid carbon source works great as long as you remember to do it." The key to remembering is to dose the tank before you dose yourself.

 

[ripped tide]

haninja;730429 wrote: Which pallets are you using?

TLF NPX pellets

Edit:

rdnelson99;730430 wrote: Great explanation. Thank you very much. "Adding vodka or another liquid carbon source works great as long as you remember to do it." The key to remembering is to dose the tank before you dose yourself.

Lol I try to only dose my tank in the morning. I have known myself long enough to know that "drunk dosing" and "drunk testing" is risky business

Edit: Went downstairs to check on the tank, and all looks well except... ORP. It is a little low. I assume it is from the pellets and MB7 I added yesterday. It is sitting at 268

 

[ripped tide]

ORP is down to 242. At what point should I be concerned?

 

[haninja]

I ordered 1400 ml for my ~300g. Is it recommended to start small and gradually add more or introduce all pallets at the same time? Some instructions I
Read said add all.

 

[ripped tide]

The instructions said add 1/2 to avoid bacteria blooms

 

[atcaw94]

I have been researching this also because I just can't get my nitrates to an acceptable level. I almost went with vodka dosing (bought the vodka, got the syringes) until I wondered what to do if I was out of town for a week and you are supposed to dose every day. I currently have a BRS dual reactor with carbon and GFO. I want to convert it to run the bio pellets. Do you think I could run half the amount in each reactor, or just leave one reactor empty, or sell it and get a single? I also have mine running off of a manifold right after the UV. Any help is appreciated.

 

[mvm]

It's actually advised that you turn the UV off, especially when getting started. I would sell the dual and replace it with a single.