N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[dg3147]

Here's my take so far:

I was dosing vodka for 3+ months then, slowly cut back and started NP pellets. Initial dose of pellets was 250ml, then increased it to 500mL this week. At 250ml of pellets, after 4 weeks I noticed not much change (other than my corals seemed to not be doing as well --more brown and less growth vs vodka). I am running the pellets with 400-500 gph running through a NextReef reactor.

This week, after doubling the pellet amount, I noticed my NO3 went from 10-15, down to less than 2 (salifert); PO4 remains at 0. I will have to see if the corals respond to this.

I'm still skeptical. Vodka did so well with corals really booming and becoming much brighter. I also started Prodobio "Reef Booster" a couple days before the latest NO3 level.

Has anybody noticed brighter corals comparable to vodka dosing?

 

[Moser]

I think a BP reactor would turn into a hydrogen sulfide generator, too, if the power went off. The bacteria would make the water anoxic fairly quickly, IMO.

Just a thought, but 3 hour cycling on and off doesn't seem to be a problem for Zeolites/ zeovit reactors... they recommend it to start the system off.

Mo

 

[tmz]

That's interesting that you say hydrogen sulfide turns to a black dust once it gets into the water column. I have something black that has been accumulating on my rock and certain spots on the sand. Do you think this is what you're talking about, or is it just some type of algae? Thanks!

Hi, There are some pictures of sulfide deposits towards teh end of this article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-12/rhf/index.php#12

 

[coffeenut]

Hi, There are some pictures of sulfide deposits towards teh end of this article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-12/rhf/index.php#12

ok now after trying to read that .. i feel REAL SMART... lol.. what language was that?

i did find interest in this
"2. When using a denitrator, be careful not to set its flow too slow so that nitrate is eliminated and sulfate reduction takes over. The ORP in the denitrator may or may not be a useful guide here, depending on the setup."

Hmm wonder if putting a ORP probe in the chamber with the pellets, would have any benefit..

 

[Toadally]

Hi, There are some pictures of sulfide deposits towards teh end of this article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-12/rhf/index.php#12

Thanks for the article. I don't think what I have is HS. It must be algae of some sort. I have stepped up my water changes.

 

[tmz]

ok now after trying to read that .. i feel REAL SMART... lol.. what language was that?

i did find interest in this
"2. When using a denitrator, be careful not to set its flow too slow so that nitrate is eliminated and sulfate reduction takes over. The ORP in the denitrator may or may not be a useful guide here, depending on the setup."

Hmm wonder if putting a ORP probe in the chamber with the pellets, would have any benefit..

Randy's articles are phenomenal in terms of what can be learned from them. They often take several slow reads but are worth the effort.

I've never tried an orp probe in a denitrating reactor. Anoxia ,the environment for sulfate reducing bacteria ,is 0 mv( no oxygen and no nitrate) . I suppose you could monitor drops in orp as some indicator of nitrate reduction as nitrate is an oxidizer and play with flow and media volume but I think it's easier to just test for NO3 . As far as H2S , the smell will tell you.

 

[larryfl1]

Hey all

My tank clouded about 4 days ago. It has cleared substantially but still not completely clear.

How long will it rake and did everyone notice a slow gradual clearing over a few days or was it a quick complete clear up?????

 

[daveonbass]

well back with the pellets...no cloudyness...and no effect so far. Looks they they still don't wanna work. :/

how much vienegar do I dose in the tank, and what "kind"? My tank is 58g with 20ppm NO3, 0ppm PO4.

 

[pecan2phat]

I started the bio-beads on Sat.
I had a large MRC reactor lying around and figured it would come in handy since I will eventually end up with 2200 to 2500 ml of the bio beads in the reactor.
So my problem starts with just 1100 ml of the bio-beads in a 5.5" diameter reactor and I can't get the surface beads to tumble at all.
I went from a Mag 5 to a 7 now to an Eheim 1262 for the manifold. Manifold only taps off a little for the sulfur denitrator and about 80 gph for a dual BRS ractor with carbon. (Prior to adding this reactor for the bio-beads, I only needed a Mag 2 for the manifold)
Do I need to get a smaller diameter reactor, 4" possibly or can I leave it alone without the tumble for now to see if anything happens?

TIA

 

[GlassReef]

Great thread! Great information!

My system has in excess of 500 gallons. I tried to find a vendor that had a fluidized media reactor large enough for the amount of BPs I'd need - but no luck, other than VERY expensive candidates. So I decided to build my own. Saved (an estimate, of course) close to 50% by going the DIY route.

Anyway, for those of you with a large system and a knack for DIY, I thought I'd post a link to the the build page, on my site.

BTW, at the end of the page is a short video of the pellets tumbling in the reactor - Id appreciate your comments if you think there is too much or too little movement.

Here's the link: Jumbo Reactor Build

BTW: for those who didn't have much luck playing the video, it should be fine, now. I forgot that some versions of Media Player can only handle .wmv files.

 

[DJREEF]

Great thread! Great information!

My system has in excess of 500 gallons. I tried to find a vendor that had a fluidized media reactor large enough for the amount of BPs I'd need - but no luck, other than VERY expensive candidates. So I decided to build my own. Saved (an estimate, of course) close to 50% by going the DIY route.

Anyway, for those of you with a large system and a knack for DIY, I thought I'd post a link to the the build page, on my site.

BTW, at the end of the page is a short video of the pellets tumbling in the reactor - Id appreciate your comments if you think there is too much or too little movement.

Here's the link: Jumbo Reactor Build

Very nice work. The video didn't load at the bottom of the page, though.

You know there's a guy hanging around here named George who got his start doing little projects just like this about 10, or so, years ago. Well, one thing lead to another.....I've heard he's a millionaire, now.

DJ

 

[GlassReef]

You know there's a guy hanging around here named George who got his start doing little projects just like this about 10, or so, years ago. Well, one thing lead to another.....I've heard he's a millionaire, now. DJ

Thanks! Well ... fourty years ago I might have given to whole idea some thought, but now - senior moments take up most of my time.

BTW: the video should run now...

 

[coffeenut]

Thanks! Well ... fourty years ago I might have given to whole idea some thought, but now - senior moments take up most of my time.

BTW: the video should run now...

\
I ordered a 27"x6", as previously stated, i have 5000ml of pellets in it for my 600 gal system..

here is the previous post:

I will be ordering one of these http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=37_490_535&products_id=3090

driven off of one of these

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...&Product_Code=PW-250PS&Category_Code=Panworld

The last one is my new return for my main tank, i have it "Teed" off to some quick connect fittings..1/2" . which is connected to my 2- Duel BRS reactors with Phos and carbon, and one connection is going to the first link. The line is currently hooked to a bucket like reacter like Tutu's, but i cant crank the flow with out the pellets overflowing into my sump..


I have been running for over 4 months, and my nitrates are 10 or less, i have 35 ish fish in my system, no other nitrate reducers.. no clams..etc.. just a small DSB in one of my tanks, and lots of sponge, 4 5 or 6 different varieties..

here is my reactor:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Neq5LHUidjU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Neq5LHUidjU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>



and my tank..

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gjV958UtTNU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gjV958UtTNU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[GlassReef]

\
I ordered a 27"x6", as previously stated, i have 5000ml of pellets in it for my 600 gal system..

here is the previous post:

I will be ordering one of these http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=37_490_535&products_id=3090

driven off of one of these

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=Panworld

The last one is my new return for my main tank, i have it "Teed" off to some quick connect fittings..1/2" . which is connected to my 2- Duel BRS reactors with Phos and carbon, and one connection is going to the first link. The line is currently hooked to a bucket like reacter like Tutu's, but i cant crank the flow with out the pellets overflowing into my sump..


I have been running for over 4 months, and my nitrates are 10 or less, i have 35 ish fish in my system, no other nitrate reducers.. no clams..etc.. just a small DSB in one of my tanks, and lots of sponge, 4 5 or 6 different varieties..

First - georgeous tank! Really, really nice!

The reactor looks like a beauty! MRC makes good stuff - but being retired and on a fixed income, I have to save wherever I can.

Your link to the Panword pump didn't work. Which model was it?

 

[coffeenut]

link fixed

 

[coffeenut]

First - georgeous tank! Really, really nice!

The reactor looks like a beauty! MRC makes good stuff - but being retired and on a fixed income, I have to save wherever I can.

Your link to the Panword pump didn't work. Which model was it?

you sump room is AWESOME!! I wish mine was that clean and organised..

 

[GlassReef]

Ah - the Panworld 250. I like the idea of killing two birds with one stone. Are you, or will you be, running all four liters?

 

[GlassReef]

you sump room is AWESOME!! I wish mine was that clean and organised..

Well, you can keep it that clean when you're retired. My wife says she's glad I started the fishroom - it keeps me out of her hair.

 

[coffeenut]

I have 5 1000ml bags in my reactor, currently. Ha.. i have 3 kids one grand kid, and 2 jobs..lol

 

[daveonbass]

I started the bio-beads on Sat.
I had a large MRC reactor lying around and figured it would come in handy since I will eventually end up with 2200 to 2500 ml of the bio beads in the reactor.
So my problem starts with just 1100 ml of the bio-beads in a 5.5" diameter reactor and I can't get the surface beads to tumble at all.
I went from a Mag 5 to a 7 now to an Eheim 1262 for the manifold. Manifold only taps off a little for the sulfur denitrator and about 80 gph for a dual BRS ractor with carbon. (Prior to adding this reactor for the bio-beads, I only needed a Mag 2 for the manifold)
Do I need to get a smaller diameter reactor, 4" possibly or can I leave it alone without the tumble for now to see if anything happens?

TIA

sounds like you need to make sure that the inlet and outlet of the reactor are larger diameter, so to not restrict the pump. Secondly, you need to find a way to diffuse the flow in the reactor enough so that it doesn't "channel" through the reactor.

don't ask me how though.