Biopellet Bacterial bloom

[aravindk]

I have been using Biopellet reactor for several years. Lately, I am experiencing heavy bacterial bloom. I mean the thick slimy stuff that is floating in the sump, stringy things that line up the wall of the sump and wires and stuff. It even goes to the display tank and the water is not as clear as it used to be. Every day I use a fishnet to grab as much as I can and dump it. But I am unable to keep up.

I have the reactor output line near the skimmer intake. My skimmer is a Royal Exclusive Alpha Cone 200, a workhorse that has served me quite well. I know that this skimmer had handled this load pretty well in the past and I am confident it is not like skimmer is not able to handle the load.

Any ideas where to look for trouble?

 

[Crooked Reef]

Did you recently refill the reactor? Is the skimmer producing as normal? I had this happen when I refilled mine, except my bacterial bloom was in the water column instead of the rocks. It lasted for two weeks until I put a UV sterilizer online. Cleared it up overnight.

 

[bertoni]

I might try cutting back on the amount of media in the reactor if there's been no recent changes in its setup. Have there been any recent feeding changes?

 

[mcgyvr]

Yep...cut down on the amount of biopellets...sounds like too much..

 

[aravindk]

Did you recently refill the reactor? Is the skimmer producing as normal? I had this happen when I refilled mine, except my bacterial bloom was in the water column instead of the rocks. It lasted for two weeks until I put a UV sterilizer online. Cleared it up overnight.

Last time it was refilled two months ago. I had put a 1000 ml in it. The media is nearly gone and it is like powdery stuff right now and it is time for me to order another refill. Skimmer is overflowing all the time which is also unusual. I come to suspect it is this excess bacteria is causing the overflow.

 

[aravindk]

I might try cutting back on the amount of media in the reactor if there's been no recent changes in its setup. Have there been any recent feeding changes?

Nowadays I am only feeding once every other day but I feed heavily. It is a 180g system and I probably have about 12 fish in it. While I have a fewer fish than usual, the ones I have are pretty large. Do you think since I only feed every other day there is not much bio load therefore the Biopellet reactor is a kind of overkill?

 

[mcgyvr]

What are your nitrate/phosphate levels?.
If they are low and not an issue then a biopellet reactor isnt needed...if you have troubles maintaining them then it can help...plain and simple..

 

[bertoni]

Feeding less food more frequently might help limit the bloom. The nutrient pulse might be an issue. I am not sure what is happening, though. Feeding less total food should tend to reduce the need for pellets, but even that can get complicated.

 

[aravindk]

I am going to take the Biopellet reactor offline. I will monitor for couple of months and see how the tank does. Thanks everyone for your valuable input. Much appreciated as always.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, please let us know how it goes!

 

[cwschoon]

Please forgive the thread revival! I am looking at the JNS Alpha 1 for my 125 mixed reef and it comes with 250ml of pellets. Can someone guide me, as to the proper volume of pellets please? Am dosing nopox now but will be travelling for work in the future.
Thanks.