Biopellet Reactor: Tuning

[gdemos]

I will be modifying this RD 500 BPR to eliminate the elbow effluent and go with a straight effluent valve and will tap&die to go from 3/8" to 1/2" effluent fitting. This should net me 200 gph flow through reactor while keeping healthy media tumble. As is my feed line at 1/2" OD line producing 200 gph but effluent line at 3/8"; plus the bend of elbow fitting was restricting me down to 60 Gph at wide open

 

[Aqualund]

Before busting out the tap and die (because I've done this and it's kind of a pain since a 1/2" tap is so big) Try using a fitting that has a 3/8" npft fitting that screws in with the output john guest fitting being 1/2". Yes, yes I know it's not the same, but the difference will actually be enough that you may see quite an improvement with just that alone.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I will be modifying this RD 500 BPR to eliminate the elbow effluent and go with a straight effluent valve and will tap&die to go from 3/8" to 1/2" effluent fitting. This should net me 200 gph flow through reactor while keeping healthy media tumble. As is my feed line at 1/2" OD line producing 200 gph but effluent line at 3/8"; plus the bend of elbow fitting was restricting me down to 60 Gph at wide open

Have you seen any difference in nitrates yet? One thing to remember before you go drilling that expensive reactor, right now you might need 200gph, but when your nitrates are 0 you won't be needing that kind of flow. I would wait and see if the nitrates start dropping before you make that big of a change.

 

[gdemos]

No change in NO3 yet. Salifert still north of 25 ppm

If I re-thread from 3/8 to1/2" I can always go down to 3/8" with reducing coupler. Plus the inline valve.

If increased flow is the answer as suggested this is my best bet

 

[Aqualund]

If I re-thread from 3/8 to1/2" I can always go down to 3/8" with reducing coupler. Plus the inline valve.

Yeah but if you damage the cap in the process you're out some $$. Going from 3/8" to 1/2" for less than half an inch, for that speed of water flow really surprisingly wont restrict you that much. I contend you will be getting nearly the same flow...it'll just flow really fast over that 1/2" inch that is 3/8" before it widens to 1/2".

 

[gdemos]

Tap and die went well, went from 3/8" effluent line to a 1/2"

Up from 58gph effluent to 160gph.

This will certainly tell if flow through reactor is the issue!

Let's see if I can get below 25ppm NO3 and how long it takes!

Also have a neck extension and auto skimmer cleaner coming this week

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Tap and die went well, went from 3/8" effluent line to a 1/2"

Up from 58gph effluent to 160gph.

This will certainly tell if flow through reactor is the issue!

Let's see if I can get below 25ppm NO3 and how long it takes!

Also have a neck extension and auto skimmer cleaner coming this week

Nitrates still haven't dropped??? How is your skimmer skimming?? More consistent now?

 

[kurfer]

Have you thought about just vodka dosing instead of the pellets?

 

[Aqualund]

Even 3 days isn't enough time to see a drop at this rate. I would bet you'll start seeing a difference next week!

 

[sean2sean]

does anybody have issues with white calcium carbonate build up in their sump/skimmer/pipes/everywhere.... when using their biopellets? i cant figure out why i keep on getting the build up...

 

[sean2sean]

Biopellet Reactor: Tuning

I just cleaned all the pumps and skimmer so don't have pictures on those eq.

But it's a pain to clean every 2 months!

 

[gdemos]

Day 4 at current effluent of 180gph up from previous 60gph

No drop in NO3 yet.

Staying the course let's see what another week
brings. Skimmer still in the dry side. Waiting for new wiper to arrive this week.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Day 4 at current effluent of 180gph up from previous 60gph

No drop in NO3 yet.

Staying the course let's see what another week
brings. Skimmer still in the dry side. Waiting for new wiper to arrive this week.

View attachment 308690View attachment 308691

Can u post a pic or video of your skimmer skimming? No skimmate = carbon dosing fail. After I turned my bio pellets off, my skimmate production dropped in half. If that skimmer isn't dialed in, thats a big problem

 

[gdemos]

Sure I will post a quick video later tonight. Surely a finger could be pointed to the skimmer as a potential culprit. One thing I will point out in the video is the massiveness of the skimmer. Like the BIOPELLET reactor I have, the skimmer is rated for a much larger volume. I believe the mfg suggests a 600g capacity. My system is approx 250g, yet heavily stocked with well fed fish. I am confident that a smaller skimmer would produce more skimmate. All said, I agree that dialing this skimmer in is challenging. The neck extension and auto cleaner I ordered is 8 weeks out.

 

[gdemos]

5 min video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xVbkkhXoI

 

[gdemos]

Have you thought about just vodka dosing instead of the pellets?

Sure I have. I opted for the BIOPELLET based on a appreciation of the theory. Providing a constant food source for beneficial bacteria. And with a recirc reactor and ability to control effluent the approach is consistent with my overall design for maintenance.

I'm still trying to practice the theory however and I am concerned that it's not working.

I have made considerable changes to the reactor in terms of effluent flow with the suggestions here and hope this solves the issue

I have also ordered the skimmer swabbie and skimmate locker to help assure good skimming and a fail safe for overflows. I admit the skimmer does not produce tons of skimmate and I sincerely hope this helps.

This is about as far as I can go with enhancements. Beyond this I question the media.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Biopellet Reactor: Tuning

5 min video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xVbkkhXoI

I had a super reef octopus xp3000 on a medium stocked 180, and it kicked butt!!..I have nothing against reef octopus skimmers, I actually recommend them all the time. With that being said, your skimmer is not skimming correctly. May not be the skimmers fault, but u need to correct that first.

I currently have a similar sized bubble king on my medium stocked 250g tank (100g sump). When I was running BPs, my collection cup would be completely full in 5-7 days. Your skimmer should have a LOT more skimmate after 3 days. I still think the skimmer is a big culprit. Do u happen to have any other skimmers you can borrow? Something that you know will skim efficiently. Give it a test and let it run for a week or two. Even if it's an under sized skimmer, I think that's ok...you just need something to pull out that bacteria. Something is wrong with that skimmer

Does the water level fluctuate in your sump? My reef octopus was super finicky if the water level changed in my sump.

 

[gdemos]

I had a super reef octopus xp3000 on a medium stocked 180, and it kicked butt!!..I have nothing against reef octopus skimmers, I actually recommend them all the time. With that being said, your skimmer is not skimming correctly. May not be the skimmers fault, but u need to correct that first.

I currently have a similar sized bubble king on my medium stocked 250g tank (100g sump). When I was running BPs, my collection cup would be completely full in 5-7 days. Your skimmer should have a LOT more skimmate after 3 days. I still think the skimmer is a big culprit. Do u happen to have any other skimmers you can borrow? Something that you know will skim efficiently. Give it a test and let it run for a week or two. Even if it's an under sized skimmer, I think that's ok...you just need something to pull out that bacteria. Something is wrong with that skimmer

Does the water level fluctuate in your sump? My reef octopus was super finicky if the water level changed in my sump.

The sump water level is very consistent. ATO keeps up nicely.
For a year or so I had the skimmer on a stand in the sump with a water level at 9-10". I raised 6-8 months ago to current 6.5" of water level. I did this a couple months after introducing BP, I was not getting the skimmate volume I wanted. I cannot clearly say that water level had much to do with tuning and skimmate production. I have currently 1.75-2 full turns left in the gate valve to skim wetter...yet this seems to lead to more overflow than wet skim.

This skimmer has been very difficult to dial in. Of course I am hyper focused on this, and this discussion gets me even more antsy about skimmer tune. I don't know if it is related to the sump saver design (pump internal to skimmer body). or something else. I know from anecdotal stories that some skimmers simply do not skim wet very well and my determination is that this is one of them. I actually seem to gather more skimmate in volume with a dryer setting.

It is pulling 30+ LPM air, the pump is good, the unit is well maintained.

 

[DamonG]

https://www.reefdynamics.com/Articles.asp?ID=270

 

[gdemos]

I made a slight change to skimmer and am back to feeding air from outside the sump room and have a valve on the air line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhZIubr2JWw