Who uses bio pellets, pros and cons?

you wont get enough flow from that reactor to run pellets. I just got this in my email today maybe it can help you.

http://kb.marinedepot.com/article.aspx?id=11156&utm_source=MarineDepot.com+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4104eabaa1-Setting_Up_a_Biopellet_Reactor3_23_2012&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=4104eabaa1&mc_eid=add719f38d

 

You think we would get enought enough flow in the reactors we bought mike?

 

I really feel that the guys that make reactors NEVER hooked them up, i have a mag 7 as a return pump tee'd off and also running my reactor and even with the new "non clog" cartridges it seems like there isn't near enough movement. As for the hair algae, if it's on rocks you can get out easily, pull the rocks, put peroxide on them and then was them up with ro water and in a couple days it will be gone. Sounds messed up but has worked for a long time

 

Yeah bear the reactors we got are for pellets.

 

One of the pros I am looking forward too from running pellets is the fact that unlike GFO your alk wont drop. You do need to watch your oxygen though, if you run too much you could run into trouble. IMO you would be better off running less then you think you need.

 

increase the line size going to and from your reactor and use a mag 7 you wont have any problems.

 

I'm a big fan of the pellets.. I ran a Zeovit system prior to biopellets. The concept is the same between Zeovit, biopellets, and vodka-sugar-vinegar, however, the key difference with biopellets is the fact that it is a local carbon source instead of a general carbon source. I'm sure you've heard of some people having cyano problems erupting after starting Zeo or vodka dosing, and that's because you're essentially feeding the cyano just the same as you're feeding your beneficial bacteria. So it ends up making any bacterial imbalances come to life in a fairly dramatic fashion. I was sucessfully running Zeovit without any hair algae or cyano problems and then moved my aquarium across the state and into a larger system and assumed my zeo system would just hit the ground running. Definitely not the case.. the move disrupted the bacterial balance and the general broadcast carbon dosing of zeovit (vodka would have been the same) ended up feeding a horrid cyano bloom that covered my tank and many of my favorite corals. It didn't take long after switching to biopellets while still dosing the zeovit bacterial additive (ZeoBak) to cultivate beneficial bacterial strains feeding off the biopellets before my sandbed was sparkling white and there was no trace of cyano. I can say my tank has never looked better and I get much better polyp extension on my SPS corals throughout the day than I ever have before. I'm sure this is starting to sound like an over the top testimonial at this point... but I've had a wonderful experience with my transition to biopellets.

Haha, but if you really want someone to sell you on a similar experience as mine (although my tank is nowhere near this league) check out Krysztof's biopellet tank:
http://reefbuilders.com/2010/08/04/krzysztof-trycs-reef-tank-system-with-biopellet/

 

The other popular method right now is the algae scrubber. Easy to build (sorry Floyd) and I have no nuisance algae in the DT. I will get cyano in the dead spots, but that's to be expected and easily corrected. I'm thinking about building a bigger one in the near future.

 

I have had alot of success with bio pellets. The key is being able to maintain the right flow characteristics. We have been refining our reactors over the past year to do that and I install them on most of the custom tanks and setups I do. Our newest chamber design has gone without a slowdown in tumbling speed for about 4 months now. For instance during the testing of this new design on my own tank to see how effective it would be I have not done a WC in 4 months and nitrates are still at zero. I would highly suggest them if you use them the right way. If u dont have a good reactor though they prob wont do much for you.

 

I spoke to BRS on this very same issue and was told to increase the inlet/outlet fittings to 1" on the jumbo reactor.

 

Look at the pellet reactor that cadlights.com . I have been using one for a few months now without any issues of clogging and still tumbles like a champ. I think one of the best on the market.http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=51&products_id=213

 

Here is a youtube link.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ZXKWzJBEI

 

it about 1 cup per 100 gallons. I been doing a lot of reading on these and you got to be careful how much you use at one time. I will be starting with 1 half cup on my 90gal.