1. Do you have an old account but can't access it?


    See Accessing your GIRS Account or Contact Us - We are here to help!

done with bio-pellets!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Waverz, Jun 21, 2012.

  1. Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    I started running bio-pellets mid January of this year and have completely had it with them.  Do they work?  Yes!  They work great!  I never had a problem with algae, nitrates, or PO4.  What I have had a problem with is keeping them tumbling.  I am soooo done with having to shake my reactor every few days.  I'm aware that there aresoem great products out there that efficient keep them tumbled but I don't want to spend the money nor is there anything that would actually fit in my small space so I am officially giving them the boot.
    Time to go out buy some Vodka and a doser I guess.
    /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/angry.gif
     
  2. adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +19 / 0 / -0
    Just don't cut them out all at once or you'll have a crash, unless you dose some other carbon source right away. I would recommend vinegar or a vinegar/vodka mix as opposed to just vodka. I've had much better luck with vinegar/vodka and from what I've read a lot of other people have too. Vinegar is 1/8th the strength of vodka, so it's pretty easy to do the math for dosing. People have less of an issue with cyano using vinegar. I mixed my vodka/vinegar solution and diluted it with ro/di in a water bottle and have my peristaltic doser set to dose 3 different 1 minute doses/day. 3 min/day has been my maintenance dose, I was up to 8 min/day.
     
  3. Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    Too late for that they are already in the trash. I'll just double up on the water changes in the mean time.

    Now time to find a doser for cheap.
     
  4. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/Biopellet-Mixing-Nozzle

    there is a $15 solution to your problem.
     
  5. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    I hear your frustration Jeremy, I have the same probem and feel the same way abought spending alot on a different reactor.
     As far as that nozzle Mthomp mentioned, I have one and it helps but wont doesnt cure the the problem. Im going to do some mod's to mine to hopefully get it working better.
     
  6. KirklinsClownfish Well-Known ReefKeeper

    426
    Robins Ia
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    Yipp same here got tired of always shaking up the canister.
     
  7. Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    At this point I am considering going back to gfo and refugium.
     
  8. blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +738 / 5 / -0
    Ever thought about building yourself an algae scrubber?
     
  9. Actuary Well-Known ReefKeeper

    705
    Adel, IA
    Ratings:
    +145 / 1 / -0
    I've had the same frustration with biopellets. Tried a few different reactors and always ran into the same problem. Let me know how your transition to carbon dosing goes. I'm currently phasing my pellets out while getting Zeovit up and running. I had some decent success with pellets but I was never able to consistently keep PO4 stripped down to .02 or lower the way I could with Zeovit.
     
  10. areefoffaith

    areefoffaith Inactive User

    606
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    i also have tossed the pellets and returned to gfo and a denitrato = sulphurr reactor seems to be working well.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.