is biopellets better than Poly labs reef resh in removing no3 and po4?

[chercm]

How should I start if I plan to use bio pellets ? Use 50% first send monitor for 4 weeks ?

 

[downbeach]

How should I start if I plan to use bio pellets ? Use 50% first send monitor for 4 weeks ?

How big is your system?

 

[chercm]

How big is your system?

586l - Display is 4x2x2ft

 

[downbeach]

OK, so I would use 600mL as my total when full. So, start out with 200mL for the first two weeks, then add another 200mL for two more weeks, and then the balance, for a total of 600mL. Check your N's and P's during this time, and you should see them diminish.

 

[chercm]

which brand should i get ? D&D? how long will i start seeing the result and how often should i measure ?

 

[chercm]

does this flow look ok ?

 

[downbeach]

You might slow it down a little bit more, keep an eye on it, if they begin to clump turn it up a little. It will take a little time before you begin to see any results, remember the pellets have to colonize with the available bacteria, so as their numbers grow the more N's and P's they will take up. If you have some Prodibio biodigest, or some other form of bacterial supplement, you could add it near the intake of your reactor to give it a jump start, but it isn't really necessary in an established system. Most manufacturers will tell you it will take anywhere from four to eight weeks to see any results, so like anything in this hobby, patience is key. Make sure you have the effluent of the reactor near the intake of your skimmer, if you could plumb it into the intake would be best. Skimming the bacteria coming out of the reactor is how you're removing the N's and P's they've taken up from your system.
Are you running a refugium? If so, it might be counterproductive, since they are competing for the same nutrients, and there may not be enough to go around for both methods.

 

[chercm]

does this look ok ?

 

[glaukos]

I'm also nearly my starting point with pellets!
Thanks for all these important and simple infos downbeach.:thumbsup:

 

[downbeach]

I'm also nearly my starting point with pellets!
Thanks for all these important and simple infos downbeach.:thumbsup:

You're welcome.

does this look ok ?

Looks good. You may go through a little trial and error here until you find your sweet spot. As you add pellets, you may want to adjust the flow again.

 

[chercm]

You're welcome.



Looks good. You may go through a little trial and error here until you find your sweet spot. As you add pellets, you may want to adjust the flow again.

do you mean when the pellets starting to clump up i will increase or when the N or p increase i will slow down ?

 

[downbeach]

do you mean when the pellets starting to clump up i will increase or when the N or p increase i will slow down ?

The flow of water through the reactor.

 

[s2nhle]

I have been dosing voka and happy with it.

 

[chercm]

Should I run rowaphos at the same time now ?

 

[downbeach]

In order for the bacteria to grow on the pellets, they will need not only the nitrates, but also some phosphate as well. If using the GFO diminishes, or eliminates the PO4 the pellets will have a hard time being colonized. Once your pellets have colonized, (this may take 4 to 8 weeks), and you are still reading elevated level of PO4(I would use a Hanna meter for this), then consider redeploying your GFO.

Should I run rowaphos at the same time now ?

 

[chercm]

So to confirm in the mean time I will need to stop using Gfo right? Is it normal for cyano to be growing at this point of time while the bacteria is colonizing ?

 

[downbeach]

There are many causes for GHA(cyano), most of the systems I know of who had an outbreak when using pellets, usually had too much flow through the reactor, or not enough of the effluent going through the skimmer, or a skimmer that was not adequate for their system.

So to confirm in the mean time I will need to stop using Gfo right? Is it normal for cyano to be growing at this point of time while the bacteria is colonizing ?

Yes, you do not want to be running GFO during colonization.

 

[chercm]

Yes, you do not want to be running GFO during colonization.

Is it normal to have cyano growing while the bacteria is colonizing ?

 

[dowtish]

It is not normal. You are introducing more bacteria into the system as a whole and whatever effluent from the reactor that doesnt get skimmed out can cause cyano issues.

You need to be dosing some good bacteria to fight off the bad(cyano) Microbacter 7 will work well or something similar.

 

[chercm]

It is not normal. You are introducing more bacteria into the system as a whole and whatever effluent from the reactor that doesnt get skimmed out can cause cyano issues.

You need to be dosing some good bacteria to fight off the bad(cyano) Microbacter 7 will work well or something similar.

i am dosing zeobak or Genesis from polylabs is that ok ?