!!Help with bio pellets please!!

[T-Boner]

Ok well I've been wanting to try out these bio pellets but I'm unsure of what kind I should go with. I'm going to use a two lil fishes reactor to run them in what size of pump do I need for right amount of flow? My tank is a 180 mix reef with a 100 gal sump and a 65 gal frag tank all one system I run carbon and gfo. Cal reactor geo. Skimmer is a reef octopus. I have a few mangroves but not enough to really do any thing oh and half the 100 gal sump is full of a 3x3 ball of cheto. This is what I'm working with.

 

[Medicoles]

I run the vertex biopellets in a TLF 550 reactor. I use a 400 gph pump to get them moving. I really like the results, but I did have some problems with cyano after I started using them. My NO3 and PO4 have been undetectable since I started running the pellets.

 

[mil hse]

You only need a pump big enough to gently tumble the pellets. so it depends on what size reactor your using. 2LF has two different size reactors. Could always use a MJ1200 and turn it down with the ball valve they give you with the reactor. just my .02

 

[jnc914]

I tried the Vertex pellets first and my tank did not like them all that much. I basically had an explosion of hair algae and cyano. I started to run GFO and the hair algae persisted. I had to pull them off line and the algae started to receed on most of the rock. I have since started using the Warner Marine Eco Bak in a GEO reactor. I se a Mag 3 with a ball valve and have the flow right around 150gph, getting a slight tumble of pellets. I still have to siphon cyano even though I have no readings for PO4 or nitrates. One thing I did notice with both pellets is impressive SPS coloration and growth.

 

[T-Boner]

Thanks for the info! So do I start off reall slow or is cyano something that may just pop up? Is there any negative effect to useing them?

 

[wrestle1952]

Seed the biopellets with Brightwell Aquatics Mb7. You won't get the bacterial blooms that trigger problem algae. I have my biopellets in canister filter with chemipure. No algae blooms, crystal clear water, skimming is much more efficient and SPS corals are looking excellent.

 

[clowndude]

Seed the biopellets with Brightwell Aquatics Mb7. You won't get the bacterial blooms that trigger problem algae. I have my biopellets in canister filter with chemipure. No algae blooms, crystal clear water, skimming is much more efficient and SPS corals are looking excellent.

When you say to seed with MB7, how long did you do this for and do you still dose MB7.

 

[divewsharks]

do it for a couple of weeks prior to using the pellets, then start the pellets slowly (precautionary), like a 25% of your ultimate target number then ramp up slowly so your tank can adapt to the changes.

there are some who outlet the reactor next to their skimmer and others who outlet it next to the return pump to use it as food for the corals.

 

[Typlus5]

I'm using the Vertex pellets on a 200 gal total system. I'm running 1000ml of them now and ramped them up to that point, 250 ml at a time. I had no algae or cyano issues at all. Placed 250ml in TLF 550 reactor and added 250ml every 10 days to my current set up.

 

[wrestle1952]

I bought an 8 ounce bottle of MB7 and dosed every day until it was gone. I started with half a bag and a month later added the rest. I have no need for a refugium and my life is much simpler. Water is crystal clear, no signs of nuisance algae. I no longer use the MB7. That is the beauty of the pellets. Once established it maintains excellent water quality. I no longer need phosphate removing compounds.

 

[clowndude]

Shouldn't you run the reactor when seeding with the MB7? Won't the bacteria need a food source because if not in theory it will die right?

 

[wrestle1952]

I just ran my biopellets in my canister filter. I know about 5 other people doing the same thing with the same positive results. I just happened to have an extra canister filter and saved money by NOT buying a reactor or pump. If you are like me and been in this hobby for awhile I'm sure you have things lying around you no longer use due to upgrades. I had to put some fiberglass screen in the canister since the holes in the filter compartments were larger than the pellets.

 

[iriejp1]

Is it me...or is there something really unsafe about that dangling power strip above the holding tank...LOL.

 

[Frick]

Hey I rather have my power stripes up high then down low. Seems like if a drop of water is gonna fly out of my tank it will fall directly in the socket hole. LOL

I have used the Brightwell Katalyt for three months now and I am not impressed. Of course my tank was doing fine before I just had to mess with perfection. But after the terrible diatom and cyano bloom the corals started to bleach and brown. So the pellets are gone and I think that will be the end of my experience with biopellets.

 

[MammothReefer]

looks like it's behind it to me.