Carbon Pellet Questions

[fio1022]

What is the consensus here on Pellet dosing,good,bad or indifferent?
I've been thinking about trying this but have concerns about flow.
Currently I have 2 BRS reactors running GFO and GAC.Reactors are tee'd off main pump seperately and are throttled back to a slow 'boil'(tumble).
How much more flow is needed to get pellets to 'boil' compared to GFO?
I don't want to add any more pumps or modify system if I don't have to.
If I can get this to work on existing set up,it will be a VERY easy switch.

 

[Staaan]

If its the most current BRS reactor that you have and it has a 1/2" inlet & outlet you can easily swap the GFO for Biopellets.

I see that you're using a Dart Sequence pump, how many GPH is does it produce?

I run my biopellets off of an Eheim 1260 (640gph) for my 46g bowfront and run my carbon & biopellet reactor off of it.

You can leave the ball valve to adjust flow for the pellets, but most likely you won't need to. I don't think there really is such as thing as "too much flow" for a biopellet reactor. However there definitely is a problem with not having enough flow - the possibility of the build up of hydrogen sulfide, which can potentially leak into your tank and cause devastation throughout your tank.


*It may be advisable to either cut down on feeding OR purchase a separate reactor and "ween" your system off of GFO - just for the fact that you will not have any phosphate reduction if you remove the GFO and replace it with Biopellets. Its stated on a few sites that biopellets take up to as much as 3 weeks for the initial bacteria build up to effectively remove phosphates & nitrates.

 

[qy7400]

I ran the pellets for 3 to 4 months and saw no change, tried to lower my nitrates; PO4 was fine with GFO. There are lots of mixed reviews so it'll be something you try to see if it does what you want.

Stan, the Dart pump is listed at 3600 GPH @ 0' and ~2,400GPH @ 6' so flow from that pump will not be an issue adding the reactor.

 

[fio1022]

I dont know about the flow.The tubing is 1/2 but fittings into reactor are only 1/4mpt.
Tested flow and only getting 60-70 gph out of ea.
It took approx. 55 seconds to fill 1 gal.
Does it take much more to tumble pellet over GFO?

 

[qy7400]

Jim, are you trying to lower both NO3 and PO4? So far from what I've read is the people having luck need to lower both, those looking to lower just PO4 or NO3 aren't having the same results; I'm one of them. I used a large phosban reactor (TLF 550) with MaxJet 1200, pellets danced all over the place for a while but after a month some started sticking together where I had to shake it a bit.

 

[fio1022]

Phoshates 25 but don't trust reading.
Waiting on new Nitrate(salifert) and Phoshate kits(hanna checker).
I'm thinking nitrates are high as well.
I double checked and fittings are 1/2.

 

[qy7400]

25? I'm hoping you meant .25 and even that's high from a test kit, the Hanna colometer should give you a better idea. You can also bring a sample to the next meet and we can match your reading against the clubs meter.

Sounds like the pellets may help, I'd also double check with some others using them but remember carbon and GFO reactors should be pulled off once the pellets start to colonize.

 

[Long Island Andy]

Hi Jim

The BRS bio reactor uses the same cannister but has a different internal cannister to hold the bio media. Try LFS for internal cannister

 

[Crisis64]

Hi Jim

The BRS bio reactor uses the same cannister but has a different internal cannister to hold the bio media. Try LFS for internal cannister

Ya there is no sponges that can clog, it's replaced with fine mesh, you can buy that stuff at any sewing supply store & cut it to size, I saw a video on the brs website that mentioned this. I am having great success with my bio pellets, I added them to help me deal with cyano.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I have been using bio pellets since last yr. I truly believe that with good husbandry (weekly water changes, cleaning skimmers, filter socks, blowing off detritus from rocks, excellent water flow no dead spots, and testing,

I have about 400 net gallons. I'm using 1000ml of the bio-pellets, but the fluidized filter can hold more as noted on the upper side of the filter.

Tumbling pellets

Dry pellets

I added more pellets 10/1/10
Added new NPX bio pellets replenishing carbon source. Notice the distinct color differnce btwn the old pellets (NP) and the new.

Phosphates have been steady at 0.01- 0.03

Feeding fish more frequently (daily) and heavy with no change in phos nor nitrate levels.

Here's a thread I started last year
NP Bio-Pellets Should I add more pellets the my fluidized filter?