NP Biopellets are in the tank
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I have been running since they came out in my previous setup and now my current setup - no issues.
I am confident in the bacteria as a food source and the pellets ability to maintain low nitrate, but I am skeptical on the phosphate reduction.
I believe they are a valuable component of a system, but should not replace good husbandry.
Best of luck.
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I am confident in the bacteria as a food source and the pellets ability to maintain low nitrate, but I am skeptical on the phosphate reduction.
I believe they are a valuable component of a system, but should not replace good husbandry.
Best of luck.
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PLEASE keep posted.. I'm starting Zeovit today... so would be cool to mark differences and such of each
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/member.php?u=1870">jcusmarine</a>
jcusmarine: are you running GFO with the pellets in parallel?
I took my UV sterilizer off. Reading through reef central, folks were saying that the UV would kill the bacteria initially. The 4-8 week period at first it takes a bit to get the bacteria culture growing.
After 4-8 weeks with a good bacteria culture, i'm going to put the UV back on.
jcusmarine: are you running GFO with the pellets in parallel?
I took my UV sterilizer off. Reading through reef central, folks were saying that the UV would kill the bacteria initially. The 4-8 week period at first it takes a bit to get the bacteria culture growing.
After 4-8 weeks with a good bacteria culture, i'm going to put the UV back on.
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I do not run UV.
I run a little Carbon in a bag.
I am not running GFO in this system. I am considering, but for now I am letting my CUC and WC's see if they can handle any sprouts of algae - it is not out of control. When in doubt, hands out and keep up with WC's is my motto. I will only add GFO as a last resort. No need yet, no phosphates in the water column via testing.
You will start to notice extreme water clarity and you will <u>rarely</u> have to clean the glass when the pellets are established. It is amazing. Also, your polyp extension will be through the roof. In my first setup (nano cube), I noticed color improvement in several acro's very quickly. My current setup is a much less established tank and I have been fighting Bryopsis with Tech M, so the results were not quite as astounding as before. I look forward my my current setup to mature.
As with every system, they are unique and should be treated as such. Whatever you do, keep up with your WC's and your normal husbandry and maintain a high quality skimmer setup - skimming in very important in a bacteria driven system to remove excess bacteria and the nutrients they consume. A powerful skimmer will also help oxygenate the water, which is important.
Furthermore, I think that the more your system matures it may be beneficial to dose additional bacteria strains, but I would consider this rare and occasional. I think folks will get caught up in the "magic bottle" mindset and think they have to dose MB7 or Prodibio all the time and I have seen no need to do so in my system with any frequency....I just want to dose every few months to make sure there are competing strains of beneficial bacteria in the system.
I am not the expert, but hopefully this helps. I try to forget the pellets are there and run a tank as I normally would without.....
I run a little Carbon in a bag.
I am not running GFO in this system. I am considering, but for now I am letting my CUC and WC's see if they can handle any sprouts of algae - it is not out of control. When in doubt, hands out and keep up with WC's is my motto. I will only add GFO as a last resort. No need yet, no phosphates in the water column via testing.
You will start to notice extreme water clarity and you will <u>rarely</u> have to clean the glass when the pellets are established. It is amazing. Also, your polyp extension will be through the roof. In my first setup (nano cube), I noticed color improvement in several acro's very quickly. My current setup is a much less established tank and I have been fighting Bryopsis with Tech M, so the results were not quite as astounding as before. I look forward my my current setup to mature.
As with every system, they are unique and should be treated as such. Whatever you do, keep up with your WC's and your normal husbandry and maintain a high quality skimmer setup - skimming in very important in a bacteria driven system to remove excess bacteria and the nutrients they consume. A powerful skimmer will also help oxygenate the water, which is important.
Furthermore, I think that the more your system matures it may be beneficial to dose additional bacteria strains, but I would consider this rare and occasional. I think folks will get caught up in the "magic bottle" mindset and think they have to dose MB7 or Prodibio all the time and I have seen no need to do so in my system with any frequency....I just want to dose every few months to make sure there are competing strains of beneficial bacteria in the system.
I am not the expert, but hopefully this helps. I try to forget the pellets are there and run a tank as I normally would without.....
So the biopellets have been in the tank for 5 weeks, and I've seen DRAMATIC improvement in the health of my tank.
I've gone from a full outbreak of nasty algea and cynobacteria, to it being greatly reduced. I think after running for another month or two, I'll be completely algea and cyno free.
My skimmate production has increased probably 300-400%. I have to empty my reef octopus 160 every 18-24 hours. If it dont, there is so much thick black skimmate that it overflows back into the tank.
The skimmate is actually part of this bacteria that is being produced by the biopellets. The bacteria consumes nitrates and phosphates, and then you skim out the bacteria.
If you are having nitrate issues, or dont do frequent enough water changes, I highly recommend using these pellets. Its probably the best nutrient removal product i've used since the skimmer itself.
I've gone from a full outbreak of nasty algea and cynobacteria, to it being greatly reduced. I think after running for another month or two, I'll be completely algea and cyno free.
My skimmate production has increased probably 300-400%. I have to empty my reef octopus 160 every 18-24 hours. If it dont, there is so much thick black skimmate that it overflows back into the tank.
The skimmate is actually part of this bacteria that is being produced by the biopellets. The bacteria consumes nitrates and phosphates, and then you skim out the bacteria.
If you are having nitrate issues, or dont do frequent enough water changes, I highly recommend using these pellets. Its probably the best nutrient removal product i've used since the skimmer itself.
make sure they tumble in the media chamber. i bought mine from bulk reef supply. if you use a media reactor with sponges, it can keep the pellets from circulating as much as they need to.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/aquarium-additives-supplements/bio-pellets/brs-bio-pellet-reactor.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/aquarium-additives-supplements/bio-pellets/brs-bio-pellet-reactor.html</a>
i have a maxijet 1200 at full blast. the first few days they will want to clump together, but if you shake the canister up a few times they'll eventually start tumbling.
also, i've taken off my 40w UV. it takes a few weeks for a strong bacteria colony to begin breaking down the nitrates. some folks think that using uv kills the bacteria. i think i'm going to change my setup where i'll be feeding my uv with the maxijet, and having the output of the uv going to the input of the biopellet container.
you're also supposed to put the output of the reactor in your skimmer area. you want to pull this gunk out of your water column. the additional amount of skimmate from never doing carbon before -- it was a lot. i think if i hooked my skimmer up to a milk jug, i could fill it in a matter of days.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/aquarium-additives-supplements/bio-pellets/brs-bio-pellet-reactor.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/aquarium-additives-supplements/bio-pellets/brs-bio-pellet-reactor.html</a>
i have a maxijet 1200 at full blast. the first few days they will want to clump together, but if you shake the canister up a few times they'll eventually start tumbling.
also, i've taken off my 40w UV. it takes a few weeks for a strong bacteria colony to begin breaking down the nitrates. some folks think that using uv kills the bacteria. i think i'm going to change my setup where i'll be feeding my uv with the maxijet, and having the output of the uv going to the input of the biopellet container.
you're also supposed to put the output of the reactor in your skimmer area. you want to pull this gunk out of your water column. the additional amount of skimmate from never doing carbon before -- it was a lot. i think if i hooked my skimmer up to a milk jug, i could fill it in a matter of days.
One of our clients recently started with Brightwell Katalyst pellets and Microbacter 7. He's been fighting nitrates in his 180 (he loves to feed), despite ample regular water changes.
He too has noticed a significant increase in skimmate (ASM G-3 skimmer). That tells me it's working by exporting the gunk. He's also noticed a significant reduction in nitrate - rather quickly too.
Jenn
He too has noticed a significant increase in skimmate (ASM G-3 skimmer). That tells me it's working by exporting the gunk. He's also noticed a significant reduction in nitrate - rather quickly too.
Jenn
FWIW- many that are new to carbon dosing, and had an established tank noted an extended period required to bring down nitrates. This makes sense-IMO.
Also, there is some evidence that different strains of bacteria are involved, and the type(s) may depend on the specific source of carbon. For instance-whether you use 1) methanol, 2) ethanol, 3) acetate, 4)glycerol, 5) starch based (NP Biopellets), etc. They all will work. Assays of the strains involved showed diversity correlating to the carbon sources used. In other words, there are MANY sources of organic carbon that will serve to feed bacteria that utilize NO3 as a source of oxygen. There is even a guy on RC that uses (get this) WHITE RICE in a chemical reactor, with apparent success. This does not surprise me either.
Also, there is some evidence that different strains of bacteria are involved, and the type(s) may depend on the specific source of carbon. For instance-whether you use 1) methanol, 2) ethanol, 3) acetate, 4)glycerol, 5) starch based (NP Biopellets), etc. They all will work. Assays of the strains involved showed diversity correlating to the carbon sources used. In other words, there are MANY sources of organic carbon that will serve to feed bacteria that utilize NO3 as a source of oxygen. There is even a guy on RC that uses (get this) WHITE RICE in a chemical reactor, with apparent success. This does not surprise me either.
I just dropped some vertex aquaristik pro-bio-pellets into my reactor along with some matrix carbon into my media reactor. I haven't notice much of an increase in my skimmate but I have notice an increase in my pH. My pH before was about 8.1 to 8.2 and now its at 8.35. I was happy to see that but I still need to test for nitrate as I've been having problems with my nitrate as well, even with 20% WC every 2 weeks.
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