Biopellets and bio balls

Joel_155

Joel_155

New member
So right now I use bio pellets and GFO as my main method of nutrient exportation and right now it seems like the nutrients are winning. I keep having issues with algae buildup so I'm guessing my system is generating more PO4 than I'm exporting with my filtration. Instead tearing down the whole setup and redesigning the sump I was thinking there has got to be a way to increase the PO4 exportation of the bio pellets.

I've read in other threads that bio pellets consume nitrates to phosphates at a ratio or 12:1 ( or 16:1...I forget the specific number ). Right now my nitrates aren't an issue at all. My tests are consistently below 2ppm on my Red Sea test kit. I was thinking that since my system has a low nitrate level the bio pellets aren't exporting the amount of PO4 that's being generated by the system

Has anyone had any experiences in dosing nitrate ( ever so cautiously ) to see if this has an impact on po4 exportation? I've see other threads on this and there always ends up some huge debate about the effects of the dosing product ( something for fresh water planted tanks ) and the effects of the extra ingredients in the product.

So I was thinking....what if you increased the nitrate level in the tank naturally. I know that bio balls are pretty old technology and have for the most part been discarded as they are " nitrate factories ". We'll that seems exactly what my tank needs in order to increase the po4 exportation affects of the bio pellets.

Any thoughts on this? Does this idea have merit or am I just crazy ( I may be ). Thanks for reading and the help.

Joel
 
So I've been thinking on this.

What actually causes the Bio Balls to generate nitrates?

I don't think it's the filtration media as they are designed to add surface area to improve the denitrification process ( absolute guess here )". I think what happens is that they get added to a tank and after a few months of use they have collected all kinds of debris and this is where the nitrate production starts. I figure I can get 1 gallon of bio balls filled with ceramic media and then put them right below my return. I don't run a filter sock on my system as I find them a bit annoying to change ( this is mostly sump design...totally my fault ) and they would fit nicely under the siphon line and the dry emergency.
 
U kno that bio pellets are completely diffetent then bio balls rite? Bio pellets being a form of organic carbon dosing, it can b confusing... But try to cut down on feedings if possible, phosphate comes from feeding more then any other source by 100x, or so ive read. My brother in law has a phos problem and imho it was from to much feeding/to many fish, with a skimmer slightly underpowered for the bioload he was creating...its getting better with reduced feedings
 
Oh yeah I'm aware they are two separate products. I've just heard that bio balls end up generating nitrates which I think will help my PO4 exportation.
 
Thats an interesting concept, never thought of it like that.... I mean ive heard of dosing ammonia and all that stuff but using bioballs seems kinda risky to just let it buildup waste, i wonder, hmm
 
Well I'd be testing parameters and doing a visual check. Also I would make it so they are easily removable for cleaning depending on what's going on in the tank. I think if you're using biopellets as the main method of nutrient exportation you have to find a way to remove excess po4. I've had some issues with water quality in the past and it's much better now due to husbandry. I still have the algae issue though. I thought this would be safer than dosing nitrates.
 
No pox from what I've read is just another form of organic carbon dosing. I'm using biopellets which do the same thing. I haven't done a side by side comparison but from what I've read it's the exact same thing.
 
I use both. I guess I am reading that you have bio pellets and still have issues. I was suggesting to run both.
 
slgcmg said:
I use both. I guess I am reading that you have bio pellets and still have issues. I was suggesting to run both.
Click to expand...

What's your process for this? Are you dosing daily, weekly? I've heard of nopox but don't have any experience with it as I was under the impression that it's the same thing thing as organic carbon dosing.
 
Lot more effective than bio pellets, plus if you add too many pellets you get a bacteria bloom. Pellets are supposed to lower nitrates and phosphates over time. They are not as instant as nopox. you can get a bloom with nopox as well but you should be fine so long as you follow the dosage on the bottle.

here is my log so far

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2394775
 
slgcmg said:
Lot more effective than bio pellets, plus if you add too many pellets you get a bacteria bloom. Pellets are supposed to lower nitrates and phosphates over time. They are not as instant as nopox. you can get a bloom with nopox as well but you should be fine so long as you follow the dosage on the bottle.

here is my log so far

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2394775
Click to expand...

Okay so I just bought a bottle. Going to go slow to start but the price is right and it can't hurt. Have you changed your biopellets at all since you started?
 
Replacing pellets that have disintegrated. I usually try to keep the level at the half way mark.
 
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