My EcoBak Solid Carbon Source Journey

[studmaster]

Great info all around thanks Ryan!

Quick question (in the risk of repeating question that had been asked before): Are bateria proven to be more effective in N&P reduction compare to algae? If so, at what rate? In order word, why don't we just grow chaeto (for N&P reduction) and call it a day like we used to?

dzhuo: I would MUCH rather use Chaeto to export N&P, but for some reason I have a hard time growing it in my sump. I'm sure it's sump design or something like that, but I couldn't for the life of me get enough of it growing. If I could, that would be my first choice. Much cheaper and natural.

 

[kingfisherflesh]

Hey guys, this thread has been a nice read.

I am in the process of "setting up" a 125g pred reef tank.

It has been running since summer, but I am slowly upgrading equipment, and plan on going all out on this one.

My only issue is this, keeping nitrates and phosphates in check with a tank stocked fairly heavily with large fish.

Of course I came to the bio pellets, and have enjoyed this thread, my only problem is that it still makes it sound like a chicken shoot. I wish there was some sort of common consensus. This thread made me want to go ahead with it, but I dont want to lose my LPS (the main thing in the tank).

EcoBak is what I plan on using, but I have also heard good things about phosballs. Anyone using them?

I have a large area set aside in my 55g sump for the growth of macros, I plan on raising caluerpa to feed out to my two tangs and angelfish. I guess once I have this up and running I will check phosphates and nitrates (nitrates are my main concern right now, over 30 with a salifert test kit) I can run carbon or something in my 18" avast reactor.

If anyone has anything to say in regards to my system it would be highly appreciated. Thanks

 

[SaltyNovice]

OK, I want to give an update on my use of the Eco-Bak pellets by WM. This is the 8th week of running them. I've had only a few "œvisual" improvements up to now. Today my Nitrates tested out at 20 by API and 25 by Sailfert. The numbers where 80+ for API and 50 or so with the Salifert two weeks ago. So I'm definitely seeing some improvement. My Phosphates are still at 1.0 by Salifert - but I've been really feeding heavily to try to get the Phosphates up the last month or so because I felt like the Phosphates to low to allow any reduction in the Nitrates. At least that was my thoughts on the process.

One funny thing I have noticed the last 4 days. I've had a bad Diatom algae outbreak all over my sand for quite sometime. It would regress at night with lights out, but would come out everyday with the lights. The funny thing is that only half the tank has had the diatoms the last four days. The other half is fairly clear of the diatoms with or without the lights. I wonder if this is possibly due to the sand holding some phosphates and nitrates and it is leaching back out now that I'm starting to see some control of the nitrates ---- what do you guys think?

My alkalinity is still running high at 14.4 dKH by Salifert. I stopped dosing CA and MG to see if I can get it back down. It has dropped 1.0 the last two weeks. But that may be because of the skimmer really working hard and me just replacing with RO/DI. The SG was 1.023 the lowest it's ever been. Anyway just wanted to leave an update for those who are keeping up with some of our experiments?

All other Params:
PH 8.1
CA 470
MG 1170

 

[gotfrogs]

I set up an Alpha 1 reactor and EcoBak pellets this morning. Here they are in action. This is my first time using bio pellets. Wish me luck.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HHv24CMNiRM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The reactor is in the sump of my new 58 gallon reef with the output very close to the skimmer input.

 

[gary faulkner]

I need to replentish my EcoBak pellets. Where are you guys finding them now?

TIA

 

[hhaase]

I need to replentish my EcoBak pellets. Where are you guys finding them now?

TIA

Very good question actually. I was just thinking the other day that the LFS I bought mine from initially, they no longer had any. Though at the same time, one year into it mine haven't depleted enough that I need any yet either.

I guess I should probably make a 1 year report on my results.

Unfortunately my tank ran into a number of other problems. Light failures, controller failures, and it went through another period of neglect as a result. I went quite a while with no water changes, and even got away from my 2-part dosing. Let's just say, I was in a bit of a funk.

So, I started getting some cyano and bryopsis. But still nothing near as much as I used to see before running the ecobak. In fact, the slowness of the algae grown kinda contributed to the neglect, as it never got out of hand enough that I wanted to take any drastic action.

But I've since broken out of my funk and simply going back to a regular water change routine has seen a steady die-off of the algae. It really would not have been a concern at all if I was just keeping up with the tank like I should have been.

-Hans

 

[barjam]

It is interesting to note that the major suppliers aren't carrying this anymore.

If you do a google "shopping" search it shows TB Aquatics and Amazon (an affiliate I assume) has it.

 

[hhaase]

It is interesting to note that the major suppliers aren't carrying this anymore.

If you do a google "shopping" search it shows TB Aquatics and Amazon (an affiliate I assume) has it.

I wonder if it's just the ecobak, or all warner marine products that have become so limited. The amazon page says that TB Aquatics is the afilliate that's actually selling it.

-Hans

 

[gary faulkner]

I don't think that it has ever been "reasonablly available" Bought my first purchase from Salty Supply and let's just say I will never buy from them again even though I have a $14 credit from them, just not worth the trouble and will just eat the 14 bucks. How bout Precision Marine, I think they used to carry it?

TIA

 

[orly20]

Hey Everyone, this thread has been a great read.

I have ecobak pellets on standby when I get the courage to hook them up.

I would love for some of you to give an update and resurrect the thread

Thanks