BRS Bio-Pellets

I'm sure he has more info on it than I let on. He's much further along in this hobby than I. He got it because he travels frequently and my stepmom ends up feeding the tank. I gather she feeds a tad on the heavy side so he's growing cheato like its going out of style and wanted to add the bio-pellets as another measure of defense.

I'll see if he has anything.
 
a>
 
mysterybox;618152 wrote: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/reactors/bio-pellet-reactors/super-reef-octopus-biopellet-reactors.html">something like this</a>[/QUOTE]

I would use [IMG]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/reactors/bio-pellet-reactors/10-refillable-bio-pellet-cartridge-for-use-with-the-brs-bio-pellet-reactor.html">their biopellet container</a> that will work in their standard reactor..


From what I've read, the only difference between the biopellet reactor container and the GFO reactor container is that the GFO container has foam pads (we've all seen) and the biopellet reactor uses a plastic mesh (so you can actually retro an existing GFO setup to handle the biopellets)
Click to expand...
 
That's the one I used, and I liked it up until the point I couldn't get all the pellets moving. After a few 30 minute sessions of struggling, they would all break free for a day or two.

So, when and if I try again, it's going to have that inverted cone on the bottom that helps keep all the pellets moving. Fwiw.
 
I've thought about the pellets myself as an added nitrate removal method... but it seems like it'd be easier/cheaper to go with something like a peristaltic doser and a jar of vodka? I'll wait to see how everyone else's adventures go with it though...

I know you're not interested in vodka dosing... just my thoughts on the pellets.
 
LOL at the thought of seeing a bottle of Barton's with a 1/4" tube drilled into the cap..


Liquor Store Clerk:"Tom, you go through this vodka like you're taking it intraveinously"
Tom:"No, but my tank is"
 
Rbredding;618165 wrote: LOL at the thought of seeing a bottle of Barton's with a 1/4" tube drilled into the cap..


Liquor Store Clerk:"Tom, you go through this vodka like you're taking it intraveinously"
Tom:"No, but my tank is"
Click to expand...

hahaha! check out MarkL's nano auto-top off in that thread... Exact. Same. Setup. as your scenario.

Back on topic. If the pellets dont work with a cheap reactor like a two little fishes or a BRS reactor thats a problem. All those BioPellet reactors can get pretty pricey considering what they are.
 
possibly... I bet you could retro a TLF type reactor to better diffuse the water throughout the media... (maybe add a "bubble plate" under the media that will help distribute the flow and prevent channeling).. there are always things you can do to help in that type of scenario.. (always a better mousetrap)


I think that their BRS reactor would work, but maybe you would have to add a plate there, as well...
or up the size of tubing feeding the reactor..
 
Rbredding;618172 wrote: possibly... I bet you could retro a TLF type reactor to better diffuse the water throughout the media... (maybe add a "bubble plate" under the media that will help distribute the flow and prevent channeling).. there are always things you can do to help in that type of scenario.. (always a better mousetrap)


I think that their BRS reactor would work, but maybe you would have to add a plate there, as well...
or up the size of tubing feeding the reactor..
Click to expand...

Ya know... I bet you could take some plastic from an old coke bottle and make a cone out of it to put over the bubble plate on the two little fishies reactor. Combined with some holes on the cone you'd probably get what you need to keep everything moving... with the proper amount of flow of course.

I only mention the cone design because Ralph indicated thats what others (reactors) do to keep the media moving.
 
Blam! now we have an experiment! That could be waaaaay cheaper than spending over 100 bucks on a "Bio Pellet" reactor.
 
To answer your question yes, I run BRS Bio Pellets in a reactor.

I'm really starting to worry if they're doing anything in my tank. It's been running almost a month now and getting worse everyday. The cyano and hair algae are now so bad I've started running GFO to help. I never had cyano and hair algae before the Bio Pellets. Ignore the corals being closed up, I just fed everything in the tank.

Here are some pictures:

IMG_3863.jpg
alt="" /><u>

IMG_3865.jpg
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IMG_3870.jpg
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</u>The reactor does a pretty good job of keeping the media suspended as you can see. Some of the pellets get caught at the top and restrict flow, eventually I'll open it up and dislodge them. My phosphates will be tested this weekend and I'll post what the measurement. Hope this helps!
 
YES.. please update us...


just to clarify.. your outbreak started AFTER you added the reactor?
 
Could this be a results from using the full amount of pellets instead of starting with a small amount and increasing slowly? Thanks, Holley
 
Agree with Raz. You are supposed to start with 25% of recommended dosage of pellets. Another thing that I have been told to do is get the pellets off line and get rid of the cyano by siphoning it out. The pellets can feed the wrong/bad bacteria. Some people recommend using ZeoBak (good bacteria) to start the pellets back up along with Coral Snow. Both help get the good bacteria going. Read about it on bulk reef supply's instructions or on Vertex's site. They say essentially the same thing. I now using that methodology to counter the same thing that gthockey is experiencing. Too early to tell yet as I am just doing the coral snow and ZeoBAk now. I will be adding the pellets back on line this weekend. I am using a Geo media reactor. The pellets are to help create a balanced bacteria climate within the tank for feeding the corals and some of the smaller fish like the plankton feeding anthias.

Here are a couple links:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/BRS-Bio-Pellets">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/BRS-Bio-Pellets</a>

[IMG]http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/Products/Media/Probiotic/ProBioPellets.aspx">http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/Products/Media/Probiotic/ProBioPellets.aspx</a>

On Above two be sure and down load instructions within links.


[IMG]http://korallen-zucht.de/">http://korallen-zucht.de/</a>

Above site is the one with all the bacteria and other additives to complement the reactor.
The whole Zeovit reactor thing works for some but a little too intensive for me.

Joe
 
Well got tired of watching my corals die so I took the bio pellets out of the reactor (reactor still attached but running with just water). I know a bunch of other reefers are going to say "You were doing it wrong" but I followed the BRS directions. I didn't start with 25% probably more like 75% of the recommended dosage for my tank size.

It's been two days and everything has stabilized, I think. I changed my GFO and carbon yesterday and did a 8 gal water change (about 10% of the water volume). Hopefully, things will start improving instead of continuing down hill.

If I try bio pellets again I'll go with Eco-Bak and ZeoBak seems like a lot more reefers have luck with them. Overall, pretty disappointed with the BRS pellets.
 
I think I mentioned this before but I ran the vortech biopellets and i dumbed the whole bag in my reactor. No ill effects from it either. You should try those out. There's pretty good reviews about it on the web.
 
gthockey18;620887 wrote: Well got tired of watching my corals die so I took the bio pellets out of the reactor (reactor still attached but running with just water). I know a bunch of other reefers are going to say "You were doing it wrong" but I followed the BRS directions. I didn't start with 25% probably more like 75% of the recommended dosage for my tank size.

It's been two days and everything has stabilized, I think. I changed my GFO and carbon yesterday and did a 8 gal water change (about 10% of the water volume). Hopefully, things will start improving instead of continuing down hill.

If I try bio pellets again I'll go with Eco-Bak and ZeoBak seems like a lot more reefers have luck with them. Overall, pretty disappointed with the BRS pellets.
Click to expand...

gonna keep the reactor? (and use the ECO/ZEO in it)
 
Hnguyen;620892 wrote: I think I mentioned this before but I ran the vortech biopellets and i dumbed the whole bag in my reactor. No ill effects from it either. You should try those out. There's pretty good reviews about it on the web.
Click to expand...

+1 or ever the ecobak pellets a lot of ppl seem to like them
 
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