N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[sirreal63]

Agreed with DJ, you don't have to fall into the equipment trap. I use an old GAC container and a MJ1200, and it works perfectly. The pellets are not fluidized but have adequate flow. IMHO too much flow can be detrimental, you are trying to grow bacteria and the friction may very well slow that process. I do know that mine work, I haven't dosed VSV since I started and still everything is undetectable with Salifert and all traces of algae have vanished. Chaeto has been reduced to a small ball and is not growing, I moved it to DT under the halide and it is still dimishing.

 

[rutz81]

If anyone is looking for a complete setup, check out my thread in the Used Equip Forum.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1899844

 

[lunar]

I don't know if anyone has noticed the volume of NPX BPs used in Kryzysztof Tryc's reef tank which was selected as Aug TOTM.

I've never used NPX BPs but original product from Reef Interests, called NP reducing BioPellets (without X). Ref Interests is the first company that came polymers onto the market and from the same beginning I've been using their product only. A lot of other companies were soon interested in the polymers and started to release their pellets, beads, etc. I'm not sure whether their stuffs are the same or just similar to NP reducing BioPellets. These are likely to be similar only, because it would be strange that somebody created exactly identical formula for his product. I doubt that the inventor shares the results of research with his competitors. And even the slightest difference may cause different final effects, we don't know that. I think that everybody who describes his own experience with the pellets should stress clearly every time what brand of pellets he uses, otherwise this interesting and informative thread becomes misleading. That's only my thought.
BTW, my tank was selected as June , not August TOTM . Sanjay Joshi and his beautiful reef tank is a winner of Aug TOTM.

His tank is about 200g and the volume of BPs that he used seemed to be less than 1000ml from the picture.

I put 1,5 l of biopellets into the reactor. It seems to be less of pellets because it isn't a typical reactor for the pellets but a zeo reactor that is a bit wider in its diameter, the diameter is about 16-17 cm.

It is hard to see how the BPs tumble but it does not look to be vigorous.

Yes, the pellets don't move vigorously, rather slightly but every pellet tumbles, none of them is stagnant.

In his write-up he said the flow thru the BP reactor is about 1200l/h (~300gph).

The pump feeding the reactor with the pellets is a bit stronger, it isn't maxi jet 1200 but a New-Jet 2300 pump with flow rate regulation. I measured the flow at the reactor outlet and it is about 1200 l/h. But the real flow may be a bit less because of a loose basket inside the reactor. It causes that not total water goes directly through the pellets, some water goes between the the basket and the walls of the reactor passing over the pellets.

One thing I noticed is that his effluent hose from the BP reactor is much larger than his inlet diameter. I think this would improve the flow with less restriction. Most reactors that we use have same diameter for inlet and outlet.

The diameter for inlet and outlet are different in fact, but I'm not sure whether it makes that much difference. I've set a typical fluidized reactor with BP recently at my friend, connected it to a main pump by bypass and the pellets are tumbling nicely.

Krzysztof

 

[jlinzmaier]

Thank you Krzysztof for your input.

I think that everybody who describes his own experience with the pellets should stress clearly every time what brand of pellets he uses, otherwise this interesting and informative thread becomes misleading.

I agree very much. This thread was started as a general "biopellet" thread but there may be a very significant difference in the quality and effects (and/or unwanted side effects) generated by the various brands.

Jeremy

** EDIT ADDITION***

Krzysztof.
In your experience, do you think the pellets added much bacterioplankton to the tank? Could you ever see any mulm entering the tank or mulm in the reactor?? Was your primary interest in using the pellets for N and P filtration, for a bacterioplankton food source for such a densly stocked SPS tank, or both??

Thanks.

 

[lunar]

Jeremy, I think that it depends on your skimmer, how strong it is, wet or dry skimmate and what a distance is between the outlet of pellets reactor and inlet of your skimmer. You can regulate it to some degree. In my opinion my pellets provide enough bacteria to feed the corals and not to cause a mess in the tank.
I have seen any mulm neither in the tank nor in the reactor.My reactor is open. When the water level was about 2 cm higher than the outlet of the reactor I could see not a mulm but a delicate foam on the top of the water. Now I have lowered the water level so I can't see even the foam, the water flows out from the reactor immediately. Hope you understand, I can't explain it better in English.
First of all, simplicity of such filtration and time and money saving - these are main reasons for using biopellets. Both keeping PO4 and NO3 levels low and additional food source for corals were also important reasons, although not the most important for me.

Krzysztof

 

[daveonbass]

I'm not sure whether their stuffs are the same or just similar to NP reducing BioPellets. These are likely to be similar only, because it would be strange that somebody created exactly identical formula for his product.

from what I've been told many of them are the same. Also most of the sellers don't actually "make" the pellets, they simply order them from a manufacturer. Then when they get them, they repackage them to sell to us. So if there are only 3 or 4 manufactureres in the world...then yes many of the pellets are the exact same formula. :/

 

[trunks1622]

Just a quick question about the biopellets: are we suppose to have slow flow or high flow through the reactor? The reason I am asking is because when i had mine connected to a maxijet 900, I had a slow flow going through the reactor and the beads were coupling together. I changed the pump to a more powerful one and now my beads are aggresively tumbling.

 

[mano84]

So if there are only 3 or 4 manufactureres in the world...then yes many of the pellets are the exact same formula. :/

I do believe that they all have more than one biodegradable polymer so I would rather say that there is a possibility that more than one of the "pellets" are the exact same formula.

 

[ari5736]

Update, nitrate are staying at around 5ppm. Now that I had bacterial bloom pellets are completely stuck together. Removed some pellets, stirred them varied flow and can't seem to break up pellets. Bacteria is making everything stick together.

 

[lunar]

from what I've been told many of them are the same. Also most of the sellers don't actually "make" the pellets, they simply order them from a manufacturer. Then when they get them, they repackage them to sell to us. So if there are only 3 or 4 manufactureres in the world...then yes many of the pellets are the exact same formula. :/

You're right, but how to know which biopellets are from the same manufacturer as original ones? I prefer not to take that risk.
Read this:
"Our succes with ReefInterests revolutionairy finding of the NP Reducing BioPellets hasn't gone unnoticed by others. We gained some competitors which confirms all the positive aspects of our novel product. However, most of these competitors claim that they sell the same pellets as the NP Reducing BioPellets, or that they come from the same manufacturer. Some even copied our text from the website one on one. The NP Reducing BioPellets are exclusively distributed worldwide by D. van Houten (Import) based in Groningen, The Netherlands. We ship the NP Reducing BioPellets to local distributors who are taking care of the local markets.

Recently, we obtained samples from different competitors and had them analyzed. In addition, we collected data sheets from some manufacturers. The outcome was surprising, some pellets appeared to contain toxic fillers like anti-oxidants which, at high enough dose, could be toxic to aquatic life such as fish, corals and even algae. These toxins will not be released in the water instantly when you introduce these pellets to your system, but will slowly accumulate as a result of pellet degradation by bacteria and toxin stability in water.

NP-REDUCING BIOPELLETS ARE CERTIFIED FREE OF ANY TOXINS FOR MARINE WATERSYSTEMS BY 2 INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES.

Moreover, most look-a-like NP Reducing BioPellets consist of a much lower molecular mass then our NP Reducing BioPellets which results in a lower retention time and thus requires more frequent refilling of the BioPellets.
Please be aware what you put in to your valuable aquarium system. Even if the product looks the same as the NP Reducing BioPellets, it doesn't mean it is the same. If you want to be sure you have the NP Reducing BioPellets, please check in the left bottom corner where you can find this information:

D. van Houten (Import)
Postbus 5081
9700 GB Groningen, The Netherlands

Or the barcode number:

094922675002 for the 500ml bag
094922671004 for the 1000ml bag"

 

[trunks1622]

So I came home thinking that when i changed the pump to a higher one, the flow will be better and all the beads will be moving. To my surprise, half of my beads are tumbling quite nicely but the other half are either hardly moving or stagnant. Is anyone else having this type of issue? I had to shake the reactor in order to get all the beads to move again but after an hour or so its the same thing again. I'm thinking that the screen mesh i had put on is probably clogged and needs to be cleaned. now, I don't see myself having to clean the mesh all the time. There must be a better way to keep the beads tumbling. Any alternatives?

 

[bluereefs]

Here is the link to original text : http://npbiopellets.dvh-import.com/index.php/The-Difference.html

Hope is OK to post the link, just find him using google and text from Lunar post.

IMO, if is true of course, toxic bio pellets should be named public. I read somewhere in this thread about issue with soft corals, IIRC those poster do not use NP bio pellets but is hard to find who of them use NP and who other bio pellets and have soft corals issue.

 

[pecan2phat]

So I came home thinking that when i changed the pump to a higher one, the flow will be better and all the beads will be moving. To my surprise, half of my beads are tumbling quite nicely but the other half are either hardly moving or stagnant. Is anyone else having this type of issue? I had to shake the reactor in order to get all the beads to move again but after an hour or so its the same thing again. I'm thinking that the screen mesh i had put on is probably clogged and needs to be cleaned. now, I don't see myself having to clean the mesh all the time. There must be a better way to keep the beads tumbling. Any alternatives?

I am running a Mag 7 for 2200 ml of beads and can only get the surface to maybe a "soft boil" scenerio. I use to shake the reactor everyday to get it all tumbling again but after 2 weeks I gave up and it seems to be fine. No hydrogen sulfide detected and I have opened up the reactor about 6 times to check.

 

[trunks1622]

I am running a Mag 7 for 2200 ml of beads and can only get the surface to maybe a "soft boil" scenerio. I use to shake the reactor everyday to get it all tumbling again but after 2 weeks I gave up and it seems to be fine. No hydrogen sulfide detected and I have opened up the reactor about 6 times to check.

Good to know. The "soft boil" is probably where mine is currently at now. I will try to clean the mesh again today and see if I can improve on the design.

 

[bagz727]

hi guys, just would like to know if 1000 liters of pellets is enough for a 150g water volume? thanks

 

[TheFishMan65]

It should be most of these pellets are 500ml/100 gallons IIRC. But it depends on your load. Start slow and build up to prevent an algae bloom.

 

[dfd189]

Agreed with DJ, you don't have to fall into the equipment trap. I use an old GAC container and a MJ1200, and it works perfectly. The pellets are not fluidized but have adequate flow. IMHO too much flow can be detrimental, you are trying to grow bacteria and the friction may very well slow that process. I do know that mine work, I haven't dosed VSV since I started and still everything is undetectable with Salifert and all traces of algae have vanished. Chaeto has been reduced to a small ball and is not growing, I moved it to DT under the halide and it is still dimishing.

Agreed, I use a 2 stage BRS media reactor with a MJ1200. I put 1 cup in the first stage and 1/2 cup in the second stage. Both reactors tumble nicely.

I put these

in the bottom of the cartridges.

 

[stevedola]

@dfd189- did you pull out the sponge insert in the bottom of the reactors ? it seemed glued in.

 

[larryfl1]

hi all,

i am using np pellets about 4-5 weeks now...

i am battling cyano that seems to be getting worse...

my nitrates are 0 and phosphates were low but i added gfo to help on the phosphates...

what should i do?

wait longer?

use the slime algae treatments?

something else??

 

[tntneon]

-I would vacuum them away ,
but if they keep raising there ugly head you can temporary dose some vinegar too building it slowly up and when they start leaving you can decrease your temporary dosing back to zero.

greetingzz tntneon