Anyone loosing or lost tissue with biopellets?

[CW from the OC]

I have quite a bit fo experience using Zeovit, and carbon dosing is central to that method. All of these STN reports sound just like when you overdose Zeo carbon.

When you use to much Zeo, or use it too fast, the tank gets stripped of nutrients, which causes corals to STN or RTN. As a Zeo tank matures, and the nutrients get lower and lower, you usually have to decrease your carbon dosing to prevent this. And/or you need to start feeding more and using more amino acids to keep your corals from becoming too pale. It is a balancing act that require the aquarist to *observe* his corals, and adjust carbon and feeding accordingly.

Most of the reports are people putting in a lot of pellets, then leaving them in. Or this more recent post where his tank was great for a long time, then added a lot of new pellets, overdosing, and lost corals and nearly crashed the tank.

The common thread is too many pellets, too fast. Or leaving in pellets and not feeding the tank more, or overdosing after a long and successful run.

The bottom line, you cant not just dump a box of these in. You must pay attention to your corals, and add more food or amino acids as needed. Or you need to actually reduce the amounts of pellets you run as your tank becomes cleaner.

PS: some people think vodka or vinegar is better. I may or may not be, but people tend to adjust their doses when using those. Most people using pellets reported just putting a bunch in and hoping for the best. No adjustments = user error.

 

[chessnutt]

I have quite a bit fo experience using Zeovit, and carbon dosing is central to that method. All of these STN reports sound just like when you overdose Zeo carbon.

When you use to much Zeo, or use it too fast, the tank gets stripped of nutrients, which causes corals to STN or RTN. As a Zeo tank matures, and the nutrients get lower and lower, you usually have to decrease your carbon dosing to prevent this. And/or you need to start feeding more and using more amino acids to keep your corals from becoming too pale. It is a balancing act that require the aquarist to *observe* his corals, and adjust carbon and feeding accordingly.

Most of the reports are people putting in a lot of pellets, then leaving them in. Or this more recent post where his tank was great for a long time, then added a lot of new pellets, overdosing, and lost corals and nearly crashed the tank.

The common thread is too many pellets, too fast. Or leaving in pellets and not feeding the tank more, or overdosing after a long and successful run.

The bottom line, you cant not just dump a box of these in. You must pay attention to your corals, and add more food or amino acids as needed. Or you need to actually reduce the amounts of pellets you run as your tank becomes cleaner.

PS: some people think vodka or vinegar is better. I may or may not be, but people tend to adjust their doses when using those. Most people using pellets reported just putting a bunch in and hoping for the best. No adjustments = user error.

Perfect statement!!!!



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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

I put in the full amount of pellets in both tanks only because those tanks have been vodka dosed for over 2 years. I dosed my full vodka regimen when I started and am decreasing it in 1/4 over 4 wks when the pellets are to come "alive"

I am 2 weeks in and can tell something is going on in my tanks as my skimmer out puts have almost doubled with lots of white/tan froth that is even thicker than usual.

Everything looks happy so far!

Nice white R35 Chessnut!

 

[chefzif]

I am glad I did not go the bio pellet route! I say good husbandry and water changes and you will be ok! Sorry to seee all of you have nice coral get stn from the bio pellets. Good luck with your tanks.

 

[jnc914]

Well, it has been 11 days since my last post and I wanted to report that I had to pull the pellets offline. Since the previous report of STN, I can say that the STN has ceased. However there was an explosion of thick turf algae, cyano, and hair algae throughout the tank despite the use of the biopellets and GFO. I opted to removed the pellets in order to clean up the tank.

Now, when I read about others that claim that they pulled the pellets and the tank looked immediately better within a couple days, I am usually very skeptical and/or outright call BS. I am here to say that it has been 2 days and there is already visible improvement. I noticed that the turf and hair algae is dying off and receding, minimal cyano, etc. This evening I did a 45 gallon water change and replenished the GFO and GAC. I am closely watching for increases in PO4 and nitrates.

I may reintroducing a small amount of pellets when I get rid of the turf and hair algae. However, I am also looking into vodka and vinegar dosing as an alternative to pellets.

 

[r-balljunkie]

ive found the biopellets to be ineffective. i switched back to good ole GFO and all is well in whoville. i gave it a try for 8 months, but have a bit of hair algae, and no noticable improvements. back to gfo, and dont think im looking back.

 

[shelby_cos]

I just pulled my BRS pellets last night, due to serious stn. I have been a zeovit user for over a year and it was excellent, when I started i had HA bad and the zee got rid of it and my corals grew like mad. I was curious to try the BPs and used less than recommended dosage, and remember i was going from already being ulns. I do feed heavy as I have a lot of fish so I have ruled out the corals starving.
Some other observations Ive noticed is bits of HA coming back, some cyno, glass need often cleaning, lower ph (7.9), and inability of BPs to control po4, whereas zeo completely controls p04 without needing any rowa. I had no problems with zeovit and corals were thriving, I should have stayed with it but wanted something "easier" , after reading the experiences of others on this thread I do not wish to sacrifice more coral to find the fine line of success with these BPs. I know what works and corals thrive and thats where Im headed.
Hope my experience helps!

 

[Buganddoug]

I never had any problems with Warner Marine bio pellets and I have been running them close to two years. I have used about 2.5L so fare.

 

[MammothReefer]

I never had issues w/WM pellets either, took them off to see how my tank would change and now I'm thinking of putting them back on. (6 months on, 6 months off)

 

[schriss]

All the pellet problems are because they work too good and remove too much and as a result Corals are starving.
Solution is recirculating media reactor which controls amount of water going through the reactor separately from tumbling power and/or way more feeding.
People are reluctant to feed more because they fear of increased NO3/PO4 and then they blame pellets.

 

[wrestle1952]

I tried vertex and two little fishies with the same bad results everyone else is stating. I was afraid I could never keep sps and started collecting hardy soft beginner corals. I took the pellets off and 2 months and several water changes later I have montipora and bidnest beginning to grow. Finally after 18 months of frustration I am now attempting to sell my softie colonies and a large GBTA to make room for the SPS frags I covet so much.