Another biopellet thread

[ripped tide]

I agree with Matt, sell the dual, but don't buy another BRS reactor. I reccomend forking out the extra cash and getting a reactor and doing the funnel mod, or just buy a cone reactor.

 

[dangit2001]

I would not buy a brs reactor. Bacteria builds up and it just get clogged. I have a TLF 150 reactor with a mesh and its been working great.

 

[atcaw94]

I'm thinking of one of these reactors, but would mod the input/output to run off of my manifold where my carbon/gfo reactors are now.
http://www.marinedepot.com/NextReef_MR1_Media_Reactor_Chemical_Reactors-NextReef-NX1111-FIFRISCR-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/NextReef_MR1_Media_Reactor_Chemical_Reactors-NextReef-NX1111-FIFRISCR-vi.html</a>

[IMG]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sea-Side-Aquatics-Medium-Media-Reactor-/160558456828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562079ffc">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sea-Side-Aquatics-Medium-Media-Reactor-/160558456828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562079ffc</a>

 

[nholderried65]

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/category/youbuilt">http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/category/youbuilt</a>

save you a lil and its pretty much the same as the nextreef

 

[ripped tide]

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">Bio pellet update - YouTube</div>

 

[ripped tide]

Update: the biopellets have been rockin' for almost a month now. The delayed gratification was well worth the wait. I have added the additional ~200ml of pellets about 2 weeks ago and pulled off my gfo.

According to my Hanna bench meter this morning, my phosphates are at 0.03. That is perfect! Corals are looking good and there is little to no algae growth.

I vote yes for biopellets

 

[atcaw94]

Ripped Tide;741187 wrote: Update: the biopellets have been rockin' for almost a month now. The delayed gratification was well worth the wait. I have added the additional ~200ml of pellets about 2 weeks ago and pulled off my gfo.

According to my Hanna bench meter this morning, my phosphates are at 0.03. That is perfect! Corals are looking good and there is little to no algae growth.

I vote yes for biopellets

Did you have a reduction in nitrates also? I've been running the Brightwell Xport-NO3 ( not biopellets) for a week and a half and have not noticed any reduction in my nitrates.

 

[ripped tide]

Where are your nitrates now? I am not familiar with that product. I rarely test nitrate, and last time I did, it was undetectable. I can't give total credit of the low nitrates to the biopellets. My entire set up is designed to attack no3. I tested two days ago. Between 0 and 2.5ppm according to elos test.

 

[atcaw94]

Ripped Tide;741357 wrote: Where are your nitrates now? I am not familiar with that product. I rarely test nitrate, and last time I did, it was undetectable. I can't give total credit of the low nitrates to the biopellets. My entire set up is designed to attack no3. I tested two days ago. Between 0 and 2.5ppm according to elos test.

Ridiculous, like 50+. I've got big fish who poop a lot. I've tried cutting back on feeding, I've got a big skimmer that seems to skim like mad. A sump with cheato, but just can't get them down, even after a water change. I probably need to do bigger water changes more frequently I guess.

The Brightwell product just came out, my LFS called me to give it a try the same day I was setting up to run biopellets. I've got the funnel mod set up and ready to go, so I may be switch to that in a last ditch effort. I was going to dose vodka, but thought the biopellets would be easier to do.

 

[ripped tide]

I used to use the brightwells reef biofuel as a carbon source. I got tired of dosing and switchd to the bio pellets. I feed a quarters sized chunk of the PE mysis twice a day. I used to do weekly water changes. I have been really busy recently, and haven't done a change in 3 weeks. I am feeding heavier than before, but still have great levels.

 

[atcaw94]

Ripped Tide;730319 wrote: I am still running gfo for now. I added some microbacter 7. And will probably do so in a week or so.

I just started the biopellets today. Forgot about the MB7, do I just add it to the tank, or was I supposed to put it in the reactor to "seed" the pellets?
Heres a video, are the pellets moving to fast? I added 1 cup (236ml), or half what I need to start off with.
<div class="gc_ifarem_title">VIDEO0030.3gp - YouTube</div>

 

[ripped tide]

I would slow the flow a bit. Nice mod! The advantages of the mod allows you to effectively turn the pellets using less flow.

 

[atcaw94]

Ripped Tide;744043 wrote: I would slow the flow a bit. Nice mod! The advantages of the mod allows you to effectively turn the pellets using less flow.

O.K, I'll slow it down a little. An advantage to having ball valves
Did you add MB7 to seed the pellets? It doesn't look like many pellets, but it's a big reactor. I figure I'll add the other cup in a couple of weeks.

 

[ripped tide]

I did seed it, but I feel that it probably wasn't nessesary. I waited about 2.5 weeks and added the additional pellets. So far.... Great results!

 

[atcaw94]

Ripped Tide;744047 wrote: I did seed it, but I feel that it probably wasn't nessesary. I waited about 2.5 weeks and added the additional pellets. So far.... Great results!

May be a dumb question,but did you just add it to the tank per the label or to the reactor?
If I have an established tank, but nitrates are high, would adding the MB7 hurt?

 

[codsack]

I'm a bit of a rookie on this topic as well. So the bio pellets replaces the carbon and the GFO? Thanks for all the great info you guys!

 

[ripped tide]

atcaw94;744054 wrote: May be a dumb question,but did you just add it to the tank per the label or to the reactor?
If I have an established tank, but nitrates are high, would adding the MB7 hurt?

I poured the mb7 into the pump intake that feeds the reactor.

Edit:

CodSack;744067 wrote: I'm a bit of a rookie on this topic as well. So the bio pellets replaces the carbon and the GFO? Thanks for all the great info you guys!

I still run carbon. Some people still run gfo. Biopellets replaces vodka dosing

 

[atlfishes]

MvM;737052 wrote: 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.

I've just started to do a little research on the this topic and currently use UV. Why is it not recommend with the UV? It was stated earlier that when the bacteria dislodges it gets skimmed out of the water column. If my UV is after the skimmer would it be okay to use it? Thanks