Vodka Dosing vs Bio-pellet Reactor

[islandreef]

I have been reading allot on different forums and what to know what others think of this. Also would you run GFO and a Bio-Pellet Reactor at the same time?

 

[ripped tide]

Never tried the vodka. I've been shying away from carbon dosing. Took down the pellets.

Now, I'm just dripping calcium acetate about twice a week, and runnin gfo if there is a po4 spike.

 

[seth the wine guy]

I've read enough to know that I would not consider either one.

 

[picoreefguy]

yea i wouldnt do either one it can feed cyano like crazy and if you dont have a good skimmer the resulting bacterial bloom can cloud up your tank

 

[ripped tide]

Did you ever try either?

I recently started vodka dosing about a week ago.

Edit: I'm using this article as a guide and currently at 1.0ml per day for a total of about 125gallons. I haven't noticed much change, other than no3 and po4 are not rising.

 

[islandreef]

Ripped Tide;822355 wrote: Did you ever try either?

I recently started vodka dosing about a week ago.

Edit: I'm using this article as a guide and currently at 1.0ml per day for a total of about 125gallons. I haven't noticed much change, other than no3 and po4 are not rising.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php</a>[/QUOTE]

No never did, how has it worked for you?

 

[ripped tide]

So far so good, I guess. I have great expectations! Lol

My nitrates are between 0.7-0.2ppm per seachem
My phosphates are at .05ppm per Hanna bench photometer

I keep fighting this **** bubble algae, so I am trying anything at this point. The bubble algae is making me not like my tank.... And that's no good.

 

[superclown]

Ripped Tide;822358 wrote: So far so good, I guess. I have great expectations! Lol

My nitrates are between 0.7-0.2ppm per seachem
My phosphates are at .05ppm per Hanna bench photometer

I keep fighting this **** bubble algae, so I am trying anything at this point. The bubble algae is making me not like my tank.... And that's no good.

I know the feeling.:shout: thats why I went postal on my aptasia :tongue:

 

[snowmansnow]

I could be VERY wrong, but I'm not sure bio pellets will ever really catch on. Seems to be a passing fad. Carbon dosing is valid, but I'm not sure pellets are the wave of the future

 

[ripped tide]

I'm getting "bored aquarist syndrome" I think I might totally re do the 93 with new-bleached-rock and go with a bonsai theme instead of the traditional "valley"

 

[jayu]

LMK if that happens. I'd love to help out. I'm getting kinda bored as well. I need some inspirations for a new aqua scape.

 

[ripped tide]

I put together a rock structure that I really like. It probably won't hold as many corals, but that's ok. I'm going for quality over quantity this time. I'll probably buy the rock today and start soaking it in bleach.

 

[ichthyoid]

I have used calcium acetate for several years. It works if you have a big skimmer.

I also have a nitrate reactor, which is fed methanol (toxic yes) in small amounts, and 'cycled' 4-6 times a day. I had it on a 150 fowlr tank housing large angels, foxface, etc. It kept the nitrate at unmeasurable levels.

It uses egg-crate as a substrate for the bacteria, in a 6 gallon reservoir with a power head. The reaction occurs there, and you just manually shake off the excess bacterial mat from the egg-crate when needed.

Carbon dosing works, in several different versions, from my experience. The science behind it is solid.

 

[reeffrenzy]

After having a 180 FOWLR up and running for over a year with several large fish including my 8" puffer and 7" Aussie Tusk, I just installed a bio-pellet reactor. I have a 55 sump packed with LR a great skimmer, BRS Dual Carbon/GFO reactor and a 57w Aqua UV @ 170GPH.

Honestly the tank has been thriving with pure white sand, healthy fish and zero algae, even without a CUC, except a ling spine urchin. My nitrates hover around 40-60 which really is harmless in a FOWLR, but I wanted to see if the pellets would do anything to reduce it. My Reef already has undetectable nitrates and I wasn't brave enough to try it on that.

One of my local club members has been running Bio pellets for the past 2 years on several systems and he swears by them. He is actually an MD with a background in Biology/Chemistry so I trust him and let him guide me on this topic.

So about ten days ago I seeded 1/2 cup of Brightwell Katalyst pellets in a cup of tank water with a few tablespoons of MB7. I would stir it 2x a day and that was it. I also began dosing my tank with about 75 ML of MB7. I let my skimmer and UV keep running and I wasn't too concerned about the possible negative effects of either.

On the 7th day I started up a two little fishes reactor hanging in the sump and added the bio-pellets. So far so good and I haven't had any negative signs of cyano or other bacterial blooms. From everything I have read, if you start slowly it can minimize some of the "horrors" you read about that may or may not be directly attributed to the pellets.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next couple months...

Larry

 

[silver surfer]

I love my bio pellet reactor.

 

[ripped tide]

Silver Surfer;822597 wrote: I love my bio pellet reactor.

Still got it rolling? What pellets are you using?

 

[kirkwood]

Ripped Tide;822358 wrote: So far so good, I guess. I have great expectations! Lol

My nitrates are between 0.7-0.2ppm per seachem
My phosphates are at .05ppm per Hanna bench photometer

I keep fighting this **** bubble algae, so I am trying anything at this point. The bubble algae is making me not like my tank.... And that's no good.

Is there any relationship between nitrates, phosphates, and bubble algae? Ive read bubble is the one algae that can survive without a nutrient source.

 

[ripped tide]

Kirkwood;822616 wrote: Is there any relationship between nitrates, phosphates, and bubble algae? Ive read bubble is the one algae that can survive without a nutrient source.

I'm not too sure, but I wouldn't doubt it. I guess we'll see which happens first: either the vodka kicks in and drops the nutrients to 0.00 or I replace the rock and try again.

 

[silver surfer]

I am using NoPo Pellets from Reef Dynamic.

 

[ichthyoid]

Kirkwood;822616 wrote: Is there any relationship between nitrates, phosphates, and bubble algae? Ive read bubble is the one algae that can survive without a nutrient source.

Nothing can survive without a nutrient source.

These might survive better in conditions which are unfavorable to other species, that's all.