BioPellets
- Thread starter Ntvper
- Start date
Ntvper
New member
+1 on the MJ1200 thats what i use for my bio pellets in the BRS Dual Reactor my phos are gone or unreadable on my test kit but i have to have some in the system as my algae is not completely gone or they grab it soon as the fish go poop in the tank. my fern in the refugium has taken off like a wild one with the recirculation method from the return line so its like some water gets recirced many times before making it to the DT. it seems to have slowed the growth to a manageable size though all algae seems to be dieing off for the most part and not growing. Definite big improvement to what it was. gonna let it run for another month to give a ya or nay verdict though.
Ntvper
New member
the two lil fishies reactor?
Ntvper
New member
cleaned some more today cuz i was bored and i noticed while cleaning the bio pellets inlet sponge (trap large particles) there was lil pods swimming around in there. The process i use to clean the reactor maybe more trouble then its worth but i maintain the bio pellets submersed in the water at all times while cleaning the inlet sponge and container that inevitably gets algae and other detritus trapped inside. anyone else notice pods swimming around in theirs as well? just curious
Update.
Tested last night (first time since starting biopellets one month ago)...
NH3: 0
NO2-: 0
NO3-: 0
And determined that my phosphate test is too old, but the recent cyano outbreak (again, really?), makes me think they're still too high. I've started rinsing frozen foods recently, but I haven't fed them much lately.
This is an improvement for my tank, as the nitrogen cycle was always just measureable on this test kit, but I'd like to see that damn cyano go away for good.
As far as how things look, well... they are about the same. My purple pocillipora has better color (green skin!), but my large, long-time monti is dying from the center out, but that started before the biopellets.
I didn't expect to see huge changes, as my tank's been doing fairly well, but I wanted to see how the tank would behave if I eliminated the observable (WRT test kit) nitrogen cycle and the occasional cyano. There are some things that are really doing well, and there are some things that are questionable. I have noticed over the years that it doesn't really matter what I add... Some things make it and some don't. Luck of the draw/nature of the hobby, I suppose.
I do have an observation about feeding... For the amount of biopellets I am using (~125ml in a 120g), I don't need to get too crazy over-feeding. I think if I feed the corals reef chili or coral frenzy ~2 times/week, mysis/cyclops once or twice a week, and feed the fish ~4x/week, everyone seems to be doing fairly well. I might swap out 1 or 2 flake feedings with frozen, as it benefits the corals more.
Paul
Tested last night (first time since starting biopellets one month ago)...
NH3: 0
NO2-: 0
NO3-: 0
And determined that my phosphate test is too old, but the recent cyano outbreak (again, really?), makes me think they're still too high. I've started rinsing frozen foods recently, but I haven't fed them much lately.
This is an improvement for my tank, as the nitrogen cycle was always just measureable on this test kit, but I'd like to see that damn cyano go away for good.
As far as how things look, well... they are about the same. My purple pocillipora has better color (green skin!), but my large, long-time monti is dying from the center out, but that started before the biopellets.
I didn't expect to see huge changes, as my tank's been doing fairly well, but I wanted to see how the tank would behave if I eliminated the observable (WRT test kit) nitrogen cycle and the occasional cyano. There are some things that are really doing well, and there are some things that are questionable. I have noticed over the years that it doesn't really matter what I add... Some things make it and some don't. Luck of the draw/nature of the hobby, I suppose.
I do have an observation about feeding... For the amount of biopellets I am using (~125ml in a 120g), I don't need to get too crazy over-feeding. I think if I feed the corals reef chili or coral frenzy ~2 times/week, mysis/cyclops once or twice a week, and feed the fish ~4x/week, everyone seems to be doing fairly well. I might swap out 1 or 2 flake feedings with frozen, as it benefits the corals more.
Paul
well, normal weekly stuff doesn't take more than 30 minutes. It's when you have the periodic 2 part or sump cleanout etc that turns it into a weekend project lol
And on that note, my BP supplies and new test kits come in on Wed. Probably won't be able to do anything with it till the weekend, but I'll finally be able to see how ridiculous my levels are with N&P. ...which could be zero with all the algae I have growing to export it lol.
And on that note, my BP supplies and new test kits come in on Wed. Probably won't be able to do anything with it till the weekend, but I'll finally be able to see how ridiculous my levels are with N&P. ...which could be zero with all the algae I have growing to export it lol.
Ntvper
New member
glad to hear it dude, though cyano has always been a mystery it seems, your tank could be perfect then once a year ya have an outbreak or so i hear and seen, i really expected to have a worst cyano problem then I have had since my tank crashed and it wasnt near as bad as it was when i first started this tank a year ago. man when i first started i battled it for months this time days. but so far my growth is awesome better then it was or it could be me just imagining things. but i am feeding my corals now and before i just let em grab the food from the frozen feedings. but i am for sure not going through as many freakin snails now as i used to.
Ntvper
New member
i havent killed anything lately and my new pre-made saltwater drum works great. did a 25g water change yesterday after work for the hell of it. and man lemme tell you that was awesome, suck water out with hose cleaning rocks of extra waste as i go. and then take hose and dump new water from drum into tank. took a whole 30 min. then change carbon and clean some filters. the corals didnt even notice like they use too. the zoas didnt even close up during the fill up which was awesome. my base rock is now getting coralline algae growth and no signs of cyano.
And they were in fact almost zero! Both N and P were on the lowest end of the scale lol. Now to start the algae :-D
Personally, I blame biopellets for all that is wrong in the world. Well, my reef world. I stopped using them, and my tank's had a tough time re-adjusting. I don't think they're a good idea for those of us who want a lower-maintenance system, since feeding has become an increased cost and effort. Perhaps I will use carbon and gfo, perhaps I will tear the whole thing down and get out of the hobby...
Paul
Paul
