Biopellets confusion

[gregwiechardreefr]

I have been running krush biopellets for 3 1/2 months in a tlf 150 reactor. My setup is a 20 display and a 20 sump (40 in total ). The pellets have not degraded at all and my nitrate and phosphate levels are unaffected. I do not understand why it hasent taken off like 99% of other biopellet stories go. Anything I could change? Display has tons of flow + light. Reactor is pushing 600gph. I'm baffled

 

[ripped tide]

Are they tumbling really fast? For a tlf 150, 600gph is too fast. It doesn't allow enough contact time.

 

[gregwiechardreefr]

They aren't shooting up the chamber or anything, just tumbling. I've scanned all the youtubevideos and matched the movement I see in thiers, I don't understand.I have about 40ppm nitrates so it seems like the bacteria would take off.thanks for responce

 

[ripped tide]

Did you seed the pellets with any bacteria?

 

[gregwiechardreefr]

I originally soaked the pellets ina bowl w tankwater and redcap bacterial.culture overnight. Then treated whole.tank again a week after it was tumbling.I dunno. I regularly clean the reactor, does oxygen exposure kill the colonies?

 

[picoreefguy]

ive never ran biopellets i dont think you're supposed to mess with the reactor (except to add more biopellets) once you get it going

 

[jennm]

What test kit are you using to test for Nitrate?

 

[gregwiechardreefr]

Api reef kit

 

[kilralpine]

Api in most cases are junk. Seachem it.

 

[jennm]

Have your water tested with a different kit ... you might not have a problem at all.

 

[straydog]

The pellets from what i under stand are anarobic which means the bacteria grows without oxygen. Is the out let for the pellets close enough to the skimmer?

 

[gregwiechardreefr]

Thank you everyone for all the input, I will invest in some seachem tests. If the tests still.show nitrates I will toggle plumbing the effluent of the reactor directly into the skimmer. Thanks again for the guidance