Bio Pellets?

[keith sprague]

i need info on bio pellets.i was thinking about vodka doseing but was then told about bio pellets .im trying to weigh out pros and cons to each and which would work for me and my tank.so i need info about bio pellets use where to get them ect.

 

[HighlandReefer]

There is quite a long thread regarding these pellets in the Chemistry Forum:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1694529

 

[keith sprague]

i need info on bio pellets.i was thinking about vodka doseing but was then told about bio pellets .im trying to weigh out pros and cons to each and which would work for me and my tank.so i need info about bio pellets use where to get them ect.

BTW my purpose to this is im more worried about color than growth.all my parameters a re good and burning about 4 watts a gallon on halides. any other suggestions about color enhancement will be appriciated

 

[HighlandReefer]

Coral color enhancement is a realm of its own. There are a lot of factors that can cause changes in coral color, especially if you want the artifical colors.

IMHO, the Bio-Pellets and vodka are primarily for reducing nitrate (and phosphate) to the levels we like to keep for our coral. Too high a nitrate and phosphate level can cause problems for coral. Too low a nitrate and phosphate can cause problems for coral. So, you need to monitor your coral (maybe not so much color) health to get this part right. You can get wonderful natural colors of coral keeping all your parameters in the correct range. The problem is the hobby grade test equipment is not accurate enough at the low levels we like to keep nitrate and phosphate, hence the visual concept of general health is the ticket. I would add that color changes can develop from using vodka and Bio-Pellets depending on their effects on the resident coral bacterial and symbiotic algae populations.

Some of the major factors that come into play which cause color changes in coral are lighting (maybe number one), dissolved organic chemicals and their make-up, use of heavy metals, temperature, bacterial populations available in your system and the list goes on. These factors are used provided your standard water parameters are within the proper levels.

 

[keith sprague]

so what are the pros to bio or vodka.should i mess around or not? i have a healthy tank and coral. but as a sps keeper im looking for that extra boost in color.i cant do much more right than i am already. so really im lookin to expand my knowledge also.i must i did read a bit about doseing vodka and am intimidated by it. thats why im interested in Bio also. an easier way i guess

 

[keith sprague]

also in you opinion what do you think is better HIGHLAND bio or vodka.

 

[HighlandReefer]

My thoughts are based on speculation since their have been no scientific studies to help determine exactly what occurs when using these two methods to control nitrate and phosphate:

Both methods utilize bacterial populations to reduce nitrate and phosphate. Adding more vodka or NP Pellets will provide (in simple terms) more food to increase the population levels of bacteria. You then skim or filter out the bacteria as they growth to remove (export) the nitrate and phosphate from your system.

The major difference between the two methods I see is that vodka is added to your tank water and dissolves through-out, which will have an effect on most bacteria throughout your tank ecosystem. What effects that occur can be very complicated. On the other hand, Bio-Pellets are solid form, which bacteria grow on and in essence eat at the outer layer of the poly material as a food. In theory, the only bacteria which would be effected would be in the reactor or growing on the pellets. How much of this polymer can spread by fragmentation or dissolving into ones tank water is not known, but I would assume significantly less would be available to other bacteria and organisms in your system.

Perhaps limiting the number of bacteria and other micro-organisms effected may be more desirable (too complicated to know for sure).

 

[keith sprague]

so really to me it seems safer to use bio. and less complicated. where can i get this stuff? do you use either HIGH?

 

[keith sprague]

so really to me it seems safer to use bio. and less complicated. where can i get this stuff? do you use either HIGH?

either way im new to trying either one.and both make me nervous. i know if its not broke dont fix it. but if i can achieve better coloration and it works.both myself and my tank win. gotta try

 

[HighlandReefer]

The Pellets are much less complicated to implement IMHO, and I believe for that reason alone, are safer for the average hobbyist. IMHO, overdosing is less likely using the Pellets. Personally, I like this concept, but have not tried these Bio-Pellets.

I am a Do-It-Yourselfer when it comes to the chemical componets. :lol:

I plan on trying the polycaprolactone polymer. There is a current thread on this polymer:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1830864

Another thread regarding it here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1766100&highlight=shapelock

 

[daveonbass]

to answer the OP. I do use BioPellets, and yes I find it to be very simple to implement. No dosing levels...just kind of plug and play. I'm not an expert...but I do believe that it was due to the bio pellets that my corals colored up. But again I have no other proof then the fact that the pellets were the only new addition to the tank...and it was fairly sudden too, less than a week. But there are some people that have experienced side effects...so always monitor your tank and keep an eye out for any sudden or drastic changes to yur livestock.

 

[soulsigma]

either way im new to trying either one.and both make me nervous. i know if its not broke dont fix it. but if i can achieve better coloration and it works.both myself and my tank win. gotta try

I too am a user of the NP Bio-pellets and my water parameters have improved significantly as well as my corals are regaining their health and are beginning to color up. Read the bio-pellet thread and you should be fine:thumbsup:

 

[tmz]

I use vodka and vinegar. I have read the thread on pellets thoroughly and recommend you do the same before deciding. They seem a reasonalble alternative to other organic carbon dosing methods.

However, I agree with Cliff, in that my purpose for carbon dosing is controlling nitrate and to a lesser extent phosphate in a system with a relatively high bioload.If there is no issue with nitrate , I don't see any benefit to carbon dosing wether with ethanol and acetic acid or the polymers which may or may not be miscible. There is some potetnial downside though. If you add organic carbon in whatever form you may risk a buildup partiuclarly if nitrogen and phosphorous levels are already low. Excess organic carbon which can be harmful to corals and there is nothing to suggest that it enhances color.

 

[keith sprague]

wow should i leave well enough alone. or go for it. i wanna experiment but dont wanna f anything up. ahhh guess ill try bio. that was easy LOL

 

[HighlandReefer]

The old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", has a lot of merit in our hobby.

The trouble is we can't help ourselves, and end up messing things up. :lol:

 

[HighlandReefer]

Whatever you decide to do as far as experimenting, ONLY TRY ONE THING AT A TIME and allow plenty of time to see the affect of what you try. This usually involves at least one month (sometimes perhaps 6 months or more) to determine the results you decide to implement. Watch the reaction of your coral to the procedure carefully. "Patience is a virtue", which we have little of in general.

 

[keith sprague]

Whatever you decide to do as far as experimenting, ONLY TRY ONE THING AT A TIME and allow plenty of time to see the affect of what you try. This usually involves at least one month (sometimes perhaps 6 months or more) to determine the results you decide to implement. Watch the reaction of your coral to the procedure carefully. "Patience is a virtue", which we have little of in general.

LOL on the if its not broke quote.thanks for the input cliff. i always take your and randys and everyone elses info in high regards wouldnt be where im at with my tank now without it thanks man !!!!

 

[HighlandReefer]

Your welcome.

Happy Reefing

 

[tmz]

Regarding the adage: I prefer the on that goes; "If it ain't broke find an opportunity for improvement."I'm just not convinced carbon dosing is that opportunity. Good luck with it . Let us know how it works out for you.

Tom

 

[keith sprague]

Regarding the adage: I prefer the on that goes; "If it ain't broke find an opportunity for improvement."I'm just not convinced carbon dosing is that opportunity. Good luck with it . Let us know how it works out for you.

Tom

to be honest with ya tom im still unsure.i might start trying to feed oysterfeast and roti to see how sps will act. all my parameters are good.so i think ill feed first and then if no noticable results. ill use Bio.SPS are healthy but this reef keeping stuff makes ya a little nuts as we all know.and there is no reef keepers annonamous to help us.