biopellet reactor filling with slime

[NewJack]

Is it normal for a pellet reactor to fill with , looks like a shimmy residue, almost snot like. I'm new to using biopellets, Its not a DIY reactor, its a name brand unit made for biopellets. After a couple days, the chamber will become filled with a cloudy mixture, and the top and bottom plates will have so much slime/snot built up on them, the flow gets cut off through the reactor.
When this happens, I have to pull the unit off line, clean it out, put it back on line, and couple days later, the snot and slime is back. I'm confused. I thought biopellets were, set it and forget it. I'm not using a lot of pellets either, maybe 1/4 cup for a 80 gallon tank, because i wanted it start them off slowly.

 

[Perk2]

Does the pellets tuble in the reactor? If not I think you need to increase the flow rate. Is it a recirculating reactor?

 

[NewJack]

yes, the pellets are tumbling. but as the slime builds up, it cuts down the flow, and then the pellets no longer will tumble. and the effluent tube slows to a dripple with the pump running on full.

 

[slcgrad2k]

My bio pellets tumble as well. I haven't had this happen, yet but I sure am interested to know as well.

Which bio pellets are you using?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[anarchyx914]

I just started bio-pellets a few weeks ago, but I do think its normal that they create a bio-film. Thats why you typically point the effluent near a skimmer so it skims out the crud. I have been noticing it alot more on my rubber tubes that sit in my sump to feed the reactor. The tubes are super slimy, but I don't notice any issues with the reactor clogging. I use the Avast Marine Spyglass reactor for my pellets.

 

[NewJack]

I'm using a Skimz in sump reactor with BRS biopellets. I'm thinking about changing pellet brands and see if the slime continues. I really want to give these pellets a fighting chance, but with them clogging the reactor eveyr couple days. I might have to find another way of nitrate reduction.

 

[Bubbason]

I also use a bio-cannister and one thing I've learned is to reduce the flow rate. Although the pellets should agitate, the slower the flow across the pellets increases contact time, thus giving the bacteria more time to consume the nasties

Unless the flow rate is so high it's blasting the pellets, the piece of filter foam in the top of the cannister isn't required so I removed it. (Some may disagree with this) Anything which gets past the reactor is picked up by the protein skimmer and, because the sponge isn't there to get clogged up, it helps with with the flow rate a little

My cannister has some pretty cruddy looking stuff in it, but with 0 nitrate, 0 nitrite, and 0 phoshate it's doing it's job so I leave it alone.

All that said, I've not come across any slimy stuff so worth checking that out before making any changes

 

[skiwez]

What I have found is the reactors generally have a plate on top to keep the pellets from being blown out. When turning on the biopellet reactor sometimes they float up and clog that plate. Once stuck they start to develop that snot you are talking about until they cut off all flow. What I do is try to shake the reactor a bit when first turned on. That loosens the biopellet and they fall back down

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[GimpyFin]

The key with bio pellets is that they need an even, gentle tumble so they are in a constant fluid-like motion. A lot of reactors fall short on doing this, unfortunately. Without this they will start to clump and you will get that slimy buildup. One that I've found to work very well is hydra aquatics as it uses a flow accelerator pointed downward creating an even tumble in the reactor (Though they may have recently stopped selling them.) If you are considering other pellet brands, Warner Marine's ecobak and ecobak plus work very well. Been using them for quite a while. Ecobak plus is a little more aggressive and pellets are slightly smaller.

 

[Bubbason]

When adding new pellets to a system, soak them for 15-30 minutes in RO water and rinse off. This does does 2 things:
1) removes any powder from the pellets so that when you add them you don't get a burst of cloudy water
2) allows the pellets to soak up some water so they don't float when you add to your reactor.