Best brand of biopellets

[DRThompson]

DRThompson,

have you run biopellets in the past on this tank? or currently running them?

I just want to make sure, you have a very beautiful tank and Biopellets can cause havoc.

I've never run pellets before, just built a recirculating biopellet reactor: (here's the build thread)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2362617

I have been running a Natureef Biodenitrater for 2 years now. (here's my build from 2011)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2098528

It crashes every year; last crash was about a month ago. Two weeks ago I took it apart and rebuilt it but I'm still waiting for it to start working again. Made some major mods to it. It needs to cycle once a day for it to be effective; the first cycle after the rebuild took 6 days. I'm on day 4 of the 2nd cycle.

I'm running a small amount (like 100ml) of biopellets as a backup in case I cant get the biodenitrator up and running normally again. I've been reading up on biopellets; I would use it as a replacement if I cant get the denitrator to run normally again. I like the idea of a recirc biopellet reactor; being able to control the outflow of the water thru the reactor and the flow of the tumbling rate separately. IMO it is the best form of carbon dosing.

 

[Fish2reef]

I am new to bio pellets, using a small amount on a 210 gallon tank. I have the CAD Lights cone reactor, the instructions suggested to stay away from round bio pellets because they tend to clump; however I already had the round bio pellets so I used them and as a result they do tend to clump.
Have any of you experimented with different shapes?

 

[baxinabox]

I've never run pellets before, just built a recirculating biopellet reactor: (here's the build thread)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2362617

I have been running a Natureef Biodenitrater for 2 years now. (here's my build from 2011)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2098528

It crashes every year; last crash was about a month ago. Two weeks ago I took it apart and rebuilt it but I'm still waiting for it to start working again. Made some major mods to it. It needs to cycle once a day for it to be effective; the first cycle after the rebuild took 6 days. I'm on day 4 of the 2nd cycle.

I'm running a small amount (like 100ml) of biopellets as a backup in case I cant get the biodenitrator up and running normally again. I've been reading up on biopellets; I would use it as a replacement if I cant get the denitrator to run normally again. I like the idea of a recirc biopellet reactor; being able to control the outflow of the water thru the reactor and the flow of the tumbling rate separately. IMO it is the best form of carbon dosing.

ok i would suggest to start with 1 ml per gallon of pellets for the first month.
and SLOWLY start to add more each month. after your first month slowly start reducing the denitrator ( to make the transition for your corals as smooth as possible you don't want to strip the water of pollutants they are used to, too fast. ) as your adding more pellets. the pellets take about 4 - 6 weeks to get ramped up. i would suggest testing nitrates/nitrites/phosphates/potassium during this time once a week.

your final amount of pellets ( at least for Tim's Bio-Pearls ) should be 3ml per gallon.
( you may not need to use the full 3ml per gallon that's why i say test the water until you find that your running ULNS and make adjustments from there. by removing pellets or what not. )

final notes - start to dose potassium ( pellets will remove Potassium out of the water ) and if your SPS start for whatever reason looking bad, dose amino acids and check phosphates you may have to remove some GFO out of your system if your running gfo. also cover the Reactor from getting any light or all sorts of bacteria will grow inside.( if you have a fuge around )


that sums up what i have learned from bio-pellets in 8 months from being a complete newb on them. while running them in my own system.


ok sorry last and most important Note.

whatever you do.. always make sure the pump that feeds the pellets is on a UPS. you DO NOT want the pump to stop working at anytime.
i am not sure how long the reactor has to be turned off for this to happen. maybe someone here can chime in on this.
" Do not let the Pearls become static as this may result in anaerobic conditions and the possible production of hydrogen sulfide. "
straight from DR Tim's Site.

 

[EddieJ]

i use ecobak pellets with an aquamaxx reactor. Excellent products. No clumping and the pellets tumble evenly and consistently.

+1

 

[orly20]

They say not to let the reactor sit without flow because within about 2 hours the sulfide buildup can poison your tank. You have to throughout the water in the reactor and rinse the pellets if this happens.

 

[DRThompson]

ok i would suggest to start with 1 ml per gallon of pellets for the first month.
and SLOWLY start to add more each month. after your first month slowly start reducing the denitrator ( to make the transition for your corals as smooth as possible you don't want to strip the water of pollutants they are used to, too fast. ) as your adding more pellets. the pellets take about 4 - 6 weeks to get ramped up. i would suggest testing nitrates/nitrites/phosphates/potassium during this time once a week.

your final amount of pellets ( at least for Tim's Bio-Pearls ) should be 3ml per gallon.
( you may not need to use the full 3ml per gallon that's why i say test the water until you find that your running ULNS and make adjustments from there. by removing pellets or what not. )

final notes - start to dose potassium ( pellets will remove Potassium out of the water ) and if your SPS start for whatever reason looking bad, dose amino acids and check phosphates you may have to remove some GFO out of your system if your running gfo. also cover the Reactor from getting any light or all sorts of bacteria will grow inside.( if you have a fuge around )


that sums up what i have learned from bio-pellets in 8 months from being a complete newb on them. while running them in my own system.


ok sorry last and most important Note.

whatever you do.. always make sure the pump that feeds the pellets is on a UPS. you DO NOT want the pump to stop working at anytime.
i am not sure how long the reactor has to be turned off for this to happen. maybe someone here can chime in on this.
" Do not let the Pearls become static as this may result in anaerobic conditions and the possible production of hydrogen sulfide. "
straight from DR Tim's Site.

Excellent info!

I've been able to get the natureef denitrator up and running again so I'll be taking down the biopellets for now. Might be switching over to biopellets later this year.


Thanks everyone for your input, was greatly appreciated!