N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)
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Luckylouse
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PH Issue with Pellets.
I just upgrades my system 2 weeks ago and I've been battling PH issues ever since. Everything else is good with my readings. I've been increasing my ALK to deal with the lower PH.
Here's a little more info so you have all of the facts.
1. I was running a 90 Gallon sumped system with 500 grams of Bio pellets in a small reactor. I was using this for about 3 weeks prior to the upgrade. It worked great and in those 3 weeks I had a noticeable reduction of cyano. Everything was great.
2. During my upgrade i unplugged my NP reactor for 4 days!!! I has some unexpected plumbing issues so my 4 hour transfer ended up being 4 days. Everything did survive except of a Monti piece that was already struggling. I fragged it in time to keep it though.
3. I used about 30lbs from my old sand. 3 days after everything got transfered I noticed a large Dino out break. I think anything of it but now I figured it was probably from the Bio pellets. figured because I has the reactor off for 4 days that the live bacteria died and released some nasties back into the tank. good thing I have a solid skimmer! It could have been the old sand too, or probably a combination of the 2.
4. I used to have no issue with PH. In fact my PH was always stable around 8.35 during the day and rarely fell below 8 at night. That was with an Alk reading of 7.8dkh.
5. My readings are accurate as I brought them into my LFS to double check them.
So the question is... do these pellets increase Biological acid waste which decrease the PH? I'm thinking yes. What are your thoughts on this?
Also... I have the outlet of my reactor aimed directly at my Simmer intake.
Current PH is 8.08 during the day and 7.86 at night. Current ALk reading is 8.0
I just upgrades my system 2 weeks ago and I've been battling PH issues ever since. Everything else is good with my readings. I've been increasing my ALK to deal with the lower PH.
Here's a little more info so you have all of the facts.
1. I was running a 90 Gallon sumped system with 500 grams of Bio pellets in a small reactor. I was using this for about 3 weeks prior to the upgrade. It worked great and in those 3 weeks I had a noticeable reduction of cyano. Everything was great.
2. During my upgrade i unplugged my NP reactor for 4 days!!! I has some unexpected plumbing issues so my 4 hour transfer ended up being 4 days. Everything did survive except of a Monti piece that was already struggling. I fragged it in time to keep it though.
3. I used about 30lbs from my old sand. 3 days after everything got transfered I noticed a large Dino out break. I think anything of it but now I figured it was probably from the Bio pellets. figured because I has the reactor off for 4 days that the live bacteria died and released some nasties back into the tank. good thing I have a solid skimmer! It could have been the old sand too, or probably a combination of the 2.
4. I used to have no issue with PH. In fact my PH was always stable around 8.35 during the day and rarely fell below 8 at night. That was with an Alk reading of 7.8dkh.
5. My readings are accurate as I brought them into my LFS to double check them.
So the question is... do these pellets increase Biological acid waste which decrease the PH? I'm thinking yes. What are your thoughts on this?
Also... I have the outlet of my reactor aimed directly at my Simmer intake.
Current PH is 8.08 during the day and 7.86 at night. Current ALk reading is 8.0
SimonSKL
New member
I too was having PH dropping rapidly right after the start of BP. Slowing down the flow rate through the reactor seemed to help in my case. Also increase aeration if you can and make sure the air going into your skimmer is coming from outside the tank. You may have to reduce the volume of BP in your reactor and gradually add them back once PH stablized. Good luck!
Luckylouse
New member
Just checked my PH again.. i got it to 8.13 today. I left the doors of my stand open and cracked the window in my living room. It seemed to help a little. As for the skimmer air supply.... I'll have to fugre out a way of doing that.
I'm using a Bubble King 180. I'm wondering how I can do it. i might throw in a fan system under the stand to vent it. i think I may have better results if I do it that way.
I'm using a Bubble King 180. I'm wondering how I can do it. i might throw in a fan system under the stand to vent it. i think I may have better results if I do it that way.
jptenklooster
New member
you can also try to put an additional tube on your air tube which you place outside your tank. an alternative would be using a CO2 scrubber (most cases this is something like CaOH solution or granes that will absorb the CO2 in the recycled air). Good luck with it. Personally I went for the extra air tube and it is working very nicely for me.
ciao,
JP
stevedola
Master of my domain
anyone?
I was going to intially try that but the refillable cartridge won't even fit 1L of pellets so it's just too small for me. If your tank is 100g or less it may work. Replace the foam inserts with the cross-stitching type material mentioned or earilier pages of this thread as the foam will clog quickly.
erroldejesus
New member
I'm using a sulphur reactor (this is the only thing that help me to lower the nitrates). But I 'm considering to use the BP. Do you recomend me stop the sulphur for some time until the BP takes the bacteria? Thanks
Errol
Errol
SimonSKL
New member
If your Phosban reactor is the 150 model, you will be limited to only about 500ml of BP and with the inlet to the reactor being 1/4" your flow rate thru the reactor will be limited also. The 550 model will work with 1L of BP since it has 1/2" inlet.
this is me
Active member
I've been running the BP in my dual BRS reactor along with the carbon for over a week now without any problem. However, I did change the fitting on it. I think the stock fittings are 1/2" OD. I changed it into a 1/2" ID and ran a maxi1200 on it without any restrictor valve. This seem to work best for the BP to tumble. I also replaced the foam pad on the chamber with the BP with a mesh to keep the flow rate up and still keep in the chamber.
Keep in mind that the carbon will tumble as well if you don't have any pads to hold them down.
this is me
Active member
I left the filter pads in the canister with the carbon. Without the pad, the carbon will tumble out of control.
stormrider27
Member
and which chamber did you put the BP in?
this is me
Active member
I was planning on just starting with a few... I don't want the ph swings etc from a boom in the bacteria population.
Does anyone directly feed their skimmer with the effluent from the reactor?
daveonbass
New member
I am about to take the plunge and try these as well. BUT (and I have not read all the pages)...I have not seen a recent answer to the question: does anyone feed the skimmer directly with the effluent from the Biopellets?
I have limited space, and that would be the easiest way for me, but if it's not a good idea then I can scrap together a few more inches of real estate in my sump.
I have limited space, and that would be the easiest way for me, but if it's not a good idea then I can scrap together a few more inches of real estate in my sump.
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