GFO Interfering With Biopellets?

[drummereef]

I'm running 800ml of the TLF Bioplastics biopellets on my 220g system. NO3 have been ~17-20ppm for the few weeks I've had the pellets online. I thought the pellets would have started to bring the NO3 down now considering they are clumping readily and skimmer production is up since putting them online. I even see quite a bit of floating bacterial matter in the reactor as well - so I know they are doing something...

The only thing I can think of is the small amount of GFO in another reactor I'm running is interfering with their productivity. Does anyone have any practical experience using GFO alongside biopellets and it reducing the biopellets efficiency?

 

[hedgedrew]

yes im about to start carbon dosing and as i understand you want to pull the gfo while bacteria are developing and add it if and when after process on nitrate elim is over

 

[bertoni]

In some cases, GFO might be able to reduce the available phosphorus to low enough levels that pellets won't be effective at reducing nitrate. In other cases, tanks require both GFO and pellets to keep the tank parameters acceptable. You could try removing the GFO, although it might not make a difference.

 

[drummereef]

Thanks guys. I took the GFO offline temporarily to see if it makes a difference. I'll report back...