Geo Media Reactor and Bio Pellets for 210

[Jhutto]

Jeremy, I have having trouble getting things stable with the Media Reactor and Vertex Bio Pellets. I started them in the reactor on 12/26 per the instructions for my 210 gallon system. About a month later I have had an algae bloom with Cyano and other green algae. I checked the Nitrates and they had exploded getting to 60-70 from where they had been less than 10. I read in Vertex FAQs that they said that if that happened to take the reactor off line. They added to inoculate with desirable bacteria. I have been using Brightwell's macrobacter7 all along according to those instructions. I had done several 20-30 gallon water changes in my 210 sps/lps reef tank as the corals were looking not so hot. That was to get nitrates down. Tank has been set up only 6 months. I have some frags and at least one colony that looks like I may lose.

Okay, I took it off line, what's next? How do I fix?

Also, how can I get the mesh to stay in bottom of reactor. It was very hard to cut the right circle and the media is/was tumbling but some of it is under the plastic plate on the Geo. Any easy way to make it work right for the media reactor? I would think they would precut those mesh and have it so it fits perfectly. My skimmer is a Vertex Alpha 200 also. Feeding habits have not changed and no fish have been added. Your or others thoughts?

Joe

 

[moondoggy4]

When I cut my mesh I did it two ways one way I traced out the plastic plate on the mesh and cut it. The other way I hold the mesh to the plate and cut with scissors, if you take your time you can get it perfect.
Always the mesh upstream of the flow, so the bottom mesh is between the plate and the bottom of the reactor.
The top one the mesh is below the plate, use 4 zip ties to hold the mesh down.
Have your media exhast going right into the skimmer.
I found some pre cut 4'' mesh at a Craft store so there may be 3'' availalbe.

 

[Jhutto]

Top and bottom plates are fixed on the Geo Media reactor. No way to get to the bottom one to attach the mesh under it. Also, its too small diameter to get hands to attach the mesh on the top of the bottom plate. Appears it was not designed for a bio pellet use just adapted by throwing in a mesh to try and cut to make fit. I was told to just lay it on top of bottom plate but that does not work. The pressure blows it up and the pellets fall beneath it and that disrupts uniformity on the stream. Not sure how to fix. I was trying to get Jeremy's ideas or anyone else who might know how to resolve.

That and why the parameters of nitrate shot up...

 

[Jhutto]

Went to Michael's craft store and go the round plastic disks and was able to cut more precisely to fit the opening. I got it tight enough to wedge it down without attaching. The flow is fine in reactor with pellets tumbling. I took the reactor off line for a day or so to fix the disk keeping the pellets in the the water and then rising with RODI water before putting back in reactor. That part is fixed but... I still have high nitrates and the magnesium has dropped. Minor part is the dkh is now 13.4. Not sure what has happened to the tank to cause those changes. Everything else is stable. ....Any ideas?

Joe

 

[Jhutto]

I guess the folks at Premium have no answers or thoughts to my questions. I have pinged the Vertex guys too and they said to go to the dealer. Its been a learning exercise in more ways that one.

Joe

 

[Jhutto]

bio pellets questions

bio pellets questions

:spin2:.

Joe

 

[moondoggy4]

Have you tried talking with Geo about your concerns?

 

[Jhutto]

No, I have not. When I was contemplating the size of the reactor, I emailed George and got no response. I have his Ca reactor and really like it. Now I have the media reactor fixed with the new custom made disk so the flow is working and the tumbling is more uniform.

My current questions are more in the chemistry on the bio pellets.

Joe

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Joe, sorry for the late response. Yesterday was extremely busy here and I didn't get a chance to make it into the forum, I apologize. If you ever need a fast response please shoot me an email to jeremy@premiumaquatics.com or you can always call me at 317-895-9005.

As far as the algae bloom goes, what kind of bloom was it other than the cyano you mentioned? The cyano is not that uncommon with any type of probiotic method, however the nitrates spiking up doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Was there any type of dieoff that has occurred recently in the tank? I"m assuming you're are using DI water, not just RO? Is your skimmer still pulling pretty hard? Any other media or anything else in the tank, filtration wise, that could have led to the nitrate spike?

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Joe, sorry for the late response. Yesterday was extremely busy here and I didn't get a chance to make it into the forum, I apologize. If you ever need a fast response please shoot me an email to jeremy@premiumaquatics.com or you can always call me at 317-895-9005.

As far as the algae bloom goes, what kind of bloom was it other than the cyano you mentioned? The cyano is not that uncommon with any type of probiotic method, however the nitrates spiking up doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Was there any type of dieoff that has occurred recently in the tank? I"m assuming you're are using DI water, not just RO? Is your skimmer still pulling pretty hard? Any other media or anything else in the tank, filtration wise, that could have led to the nitrate spike?

 

[Jhutto]

Have high quality skimmer Alpha 200 and no die offs. Skimmer is working much harder so the bacteria count is jumping up. Got some green kind of slimy algae and got some bryopsis that just started. Think it came from other tank with some of the rock and sand that I moved over. It did not show up until the nitrates went up. The FAQs from Vertex said a rise in nitrates could happen. I just do not know what to other than normal water changes. It said not to do drastic water changes as it was counter productive. Yes, using a quality water unit with dual DI canisters with 0 TDS coming out. Only other medium is carbon and its not supposed to make any difference is it?

 

[Jeremy B.]

Everything you're doing sounds fine, and it would point to the pellets in my opinion. I would take them offline for a couple of weeks, do a decent sized water change or two and see how much you can get the nitrate to fall. Keep me posted on the nitrate level if you decide to do this.

 

[Jhutto]

After sending a note to the Vertex pellets manufacturer, I got a call from Kevin at Proline Aquatics today who wholesales the Vertex bio pellets today. He was very helpful. He suggested as Jeremy did to take the reactor off line. He added that if I took the pellets off line, clean the existing bacteria off them by rinsing and then use with the ZeoBak and Coral Snow together that would bind with the Cyano and give the good bacteria a good start on reducing the nitrates. I ordered those two from Premium tonight. I will let all know how it works.

 

[taklein65]

Jhutto,

Would it be possible for you to post a picture of the disc you got or made.
My problem is I can not get an even flow in the GEO 420 reactor I used the round screen it came with, but all my flow is up the back side directly across from the reactor input.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Jhutto]

Screen for Reactor

Screen for Reactor

Got it at Michael's or you could go to Hobby Lobby in needlework sewing section. Only $1+ for about a dozen of the round disk. Easy to cut as they are in a circle. Start big until you get it down to where its a snug fit. It will stay in place.

Joe

 

[taklein65]

Ok, thanks for the pic.

Tim

 

[Jeremy B.]

Jhutto,

Would it be possible for you to post a picture of the disc you got or made.
My problem is I can not get an even flow in the GEO 420 reactor I used the round screen it came with, but all my flow is up the back side directly across from the reactor input.

Thanks
Tim

Which pump are you using and how is it plumbed? If it's only going up the backside then you are experiencing "channeling", which is the main factor of too slow of a flowrate.