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Who uses bio pellets, pros and cons?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by fmsill, Mar 23, 2012.

  1. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0

    Im thinking of trying bio pellets because im haveing a hair algae problem. My tanks are bare bottom with lots of flow to keep things stired up and a good skimmer but still cant kick it. Im doing weekly water changes and feeding very lightly every other day. My bio load is  small as well. I also have gfo running in a reactor.
     For those of you that use bio pellets what are your thought's on them? I have a brs jumbo gfo reactor so i was thinking i would take the foam out and put screen in it's place. The one problem i see is that its going to take 6 cups of bio pellets. That makes the reactor really full and im concerned im going to have a problem keeping them tumbling. I dont really want to go buy a reactor made just for bio pellets untill i try it and see if i want to run them long term.
     I've also heard of people haveing algae blooms when they start useing them. Has anyone had that problem? Any input would be apreciated!
      .
     
  2. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    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
     
  3. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    I guess i should read that i just got that email today to. I havent read it yet i guess i should ha ha!
     
  4. bearsareawsome Well-Known ReefKeeper

    969
    Norwalk, IA
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    You think we would get enought enough flow in the reactors we bought mike?
     
  5. glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +41 / 2 / -0
    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
     
  6. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Yeah bear the reactors we got are for pellets.
     
  7. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    I have heard that abought peroxide but man i hate to have to try lifting big rock structures out of the tank they are all put together with rods and very heavy lol
     
  8. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  9. mcfadden

    mcfadden Inactive User

    71
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    increase the line size going to and from your reactor and use a mag 7 you wont have any problems.
     
  10. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0

    i was thinking i could up the line size as well. all i have to do is change the inlet and outlet fittings. I have plenty of power to spare. Im useing a reeflo hammerhead hybred.
     
  11. Actuary Well-Known ReefKeeper

    705
    Adel, IA
    Ratings:
    +145 / 1 / -0
    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/
     
  12. vikubz Well-Known ReefKeeper

    734
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +8 / 0 / -0
    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.

     
  13. kyro

    kyro Inactive User

    160
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  14. saltwaternewbee

    saltwaternewbee Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I spoke to BRS on this very same issue and was told to increase the inlet/outlet fittings to 1" on the jumbo reactor.
     
  15. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    Thank you everyone for all of the help!
     
  16. Roman Experienced Reefkeeper

    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +321 / 3 / -0
    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
     
  17. Roman Experienced Reefkeeper

    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +321 / 3 / -0
    Here is a youtube link.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ZXKWzJBEI
     
  18. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0
    Roman i really like the looks of thr cadlights reactor over others i've seen. Im gonna call them and see if they make a bigger one though. I need one to handle around 300 gallon and eventually may add a frag tank.
     
  19. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    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.
     
  20. fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

    445
    Cedar Falls
    Ratings:
    +6 / 0 / -0

    I plan in starting very slow as well. Im not sure what brand your looking at but BRS said 1 cup per 50 gallon. I just want to make sure i buy a big enough reactor to start with.
     

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