Bio Pellets?
- Thread starter Jgoal55
- Start date
Jgoal55
Active member
Well, lo and behold, the birth of my daughter has caused nitrates/phosphates and all kinds of fun problems. I finally got my nitrates in check, but I tested phosphates yesterday and and they are sky-high (2.75 with hannah).
I am running GFO but haven't changed it in forever and the homemade reactor that I am using I don't think is doing a great job even when it is fresh.
So, as you can maybe tell from another one of my posts, I am looking to possibly get a new reactor but almost everything that fits a nano is made for one kind of media.
What I may do, is just buy the reactor for the GFO or Bio-pellets (though I think I prefer GFO) and just run carbon in a media bag right under the overflow drain so that it gets good flow through it.
I am running GFO but haven't changed it in forever and the homemade reactor that I am using I don't think is doing a great job even when it is fresh.
So, as you can maybe tell from another one of my posts, I am looking to possibly get a new reactor but almost everything that fits a nano is made for one kind of media.
What I may do, is just buy the reactor for the GFO or Bio-pellets (though I think I prefer GFO) and just run carbon in a media bag right under the overflow drain so that it gets good flow through it.
nivram
New member
rovster
New member
I know you said you didn't want this before, but I am very happy running the MiniMax reactor with GFO and a bag of carbon in my HOB. You could easily place in a chamber. I know you don't want a reactor that sticks up, but the MiniMax is very nice. I run about 3Ts of high capacity GFO. Every few days I turn up the tumble for a second and massage the carbon bag so it doesn't clump or clog. I'm also dosing vodka/vinegar to control nitrates. This is a 30 gallon and I think I'm ULNS, if not close. I clean the glass once a week and no algae. Just throwing that out there. I would be careful with biopellets and a small tank. Plus, biopellets are not very good at phos reduction, especially if you're low on nitrates. May need to feed nitrates to get phos down, LOL!
mlivvy
em-lee-vee
My concern with biopellets is power outages. When the pellets sit during that time they can create gases that will be released into your tank when they come back on. I've heard of tanks crashing from this. I wrote a while back about my biopellet setup and how it turned into something crazy in just a day it sat in the dark.
Bernie21
Active member
I might need more, who knows. I have zero nitrates, my only issue is phosphates.
Tecdiverfl
Member
I had phosphates of .86 in my 180 did numerous water changes and it helped but was still hi. I bought gfo on ebay 6 lbs for about $60 change it every few days. I kept checking my phosphates out of reactor. After a few changes my phosphates are at .04. Granted I have some big fish in my 180. My sps look better then in my 65 with 0.00 phosphates.
Jgoal55
Active member
Yeah, I think you're right. Im giving in and doing it this way. I just bought one today but I bought the desktop version of the minimax which is fully submersible so it won't stick out the top.
The rep from BRS told me he uses it mixing GFO and Carbon together so I may try that before using a media bag.
Matt, nitrates were high for a while but through a bunch of water changes, got them under 5 now. Phosphates absurdly high though. Surprised any coral in my tank has survived.
nivram
New member
I think that's your issue. I've read the bio pellets work of redfield's ratio. I may not have spelled it correctly. Basically it removes nitrate and phosphate at a certain ratio. When one hits zero. The other is no longer removed. At this point if try to run Gfo.
marke
New member
Here is my opinion. Carbon in a media bag is fine! As mentioned. Gfo is your best phosphate reducer, but when your phos are at super high levels the Gfo gets depleted quickly. Like in a few days not weeks. Doing heavy water changes will reduce your nutrients quick and is suggested. Now the question is where is the phos coming from? Over feeding, old sand, over feeding, over feeding! How many fish do you have and how often do we feed. Usually to much. You asked about bio pellets......my opinion only but they stink compared to your options. They produce cyano more than other sources. You can't control the quantity as it is always depleating. Denitrators are great but expensive. Or time consuming as you have to start a build thread. Lol mrx. My suggestion is vinager !! It cost 2.50 a gallon! Yes I am cheap! And in a little tank you can dose manually. Or get fancy ang get an $80 dosing pump. Read the articles on Rc about vinager! My second suggestion is to make sure you use kalk in top off before you add 2 part. Kalk can help with phosphates also along with maintaining ca and alk! School bus just arrived...... Gotta go! Lol
rovster
New member
Marke, I'm dosing vinegar in my 30 and love it! Only thing is it's great for nitrates not as effective for phos. I still run a little gfo in mine, but it goes a long way. OP doesn't have nitrate issues, only phos. Vinegar wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea, especially for maintenance. But as you said, waterchanges and gfo is probably best immediate action.
I will also add do not put a ton of gfo in the reactor. Better off running less and changing more often at the beginning. That's what I did. Had to change it out every few days until things stabilized. Now I use algae on glass and coral colors to monitor when it needs changing.
I will also add do not put a ton of gfo in the reactor. Better off running less and changing more often at the beginning. That's what I did. Had to change it out every few days until things stabilized. Now I use algae on glass and coral colors to monitor when it needs changing.
