N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[tmz]

Very tricky especially since we don't know what the ratio of CNP the specific bacteria are using or even what they are for that matter.
You don't need a lot of NO3 and I would be very reluctant to dose it though I do have some old bioballs I could use. Reef surface waters run at around 0.2ppm NO3, so I wouldn't worry much about a nitrate deficency unless true 0 levels were reached which is ,in my opinion. unlikely in a reef tank that receives some food/ waste.

Careful testing/monitoring would be a must. Too much nitrate along with the carbon dosing could lead to chaotic bacterial blooms.

 

[daveonbass]

well it's been two weeks since I did two 50% water hanges. Those brought my NO3 from 80 to 40ppm, and then 40 to 20ppm. Two weeks later they were still aroind 20ppm. So from what I can see these pellets are ol at keeping the levels where they are at, but no good for reducing the levels. I performed another 50% WC, and sure enough...the NO3 is now at around 10ppm. I'm going to keep monitoring the level, but I'm sure it will stay around that mark. For now I'm just glad that my NO3 is down from 160 (start of pellets) to 10ppm, and holding. But I'm disappointed that the pellets have not made a shift in the levels since the start of their use a couple of months ago.

 

[bluereefs]

Dave does your skimmer produce more skimmate when you start to use bp? Do you see bacterial string inside the reactor or on bp surface? Do you see white bacterial strings anywhere in aquarium or sump?

 

[mano84]

well it's been two weeks since I did two 50% water hanges. Those brought my NO3 from 80 to 40ppm, and then 40 to 20ppm. Two weeks later they were still aroind 20ppm. So from what I can see these pellets are ol at keeping the levels where they are at, but no good for reducing the levels. I performed another 50% WC, and sure enough...the NO3 is now at around 10ppm. I'm going to keep monitoring the level, but I'm sure it will stay around that mark. For now I'm just glad that my NO3 is down from 160 (start of pellets) to 10ppm, and holding. But I'm disappointed that the pellets have not made a shift in the levels since the start of their use a couple of months ago.

Maybe you just need a little more pellets to make sure that it will lower the levels instead of just maintaining it or maybe it's just not lowering the levels as fast as you wish it would. If it is a matter of speed I think the lowering would become more noticeable the lower your levels become.

As an example, say that the pellets decrease your NO3 by 1 ppm/week, when your levels are over 10 ppm then that decrease would be very hard to notice over a few weeks but if your levels is at say 2 ppm then that same 1 ppm/week decrease would be huge. I believe that the speed would slow down a bit when the levels get really low but I still believe that it could be much more noticeable at a lower initial level.

 

[rutz81]

Just an observation about a month into using these. I had to remove my filter socks; they were clogging in less than 24 hours. Now I am trying to stop the micro bubble issue I am having since removing the socks.

 

[Redplanet15]

Whats the difference between the NP pellets and the NPX Pellets?

 

[DJREEF]

Whats the difference between the NP pellets and the NPX Pellets?

Different pellets made by different companies.

I know, it's confusing :spin2:.

DJ

 

[DJREEF]

Just an observation about a month into using these. I had to remove my filter socks; they were clogging in less than 24 hours. Now I am trying to stop the micro bubble issue I am having since removing the socks.

Have your overflow empty into a clean big gulp cup and overflow out from there. It won't solve the issue completely, but it'll help. Also, you don't have to glue in baffles. Sometimes you can get the water pressure to 'hold' the pieces of glass in place behind your return pump. I have 2 pieces of aquarium top glass wedged diagonally in my sump that strangles about 95% of the micro bubbles in there. OK, one more thing - place a PVC elbow over the intake of your return angling it downward towards the bottom of the sump, and nose it into a corner (the furthest corner away from your overflow). The suction from the pump, and nosing it into the corner should hold it in place. Use the 45 degree elbow, not the 90 degree one - Depending on the pump it'll suck itself to the bottom of the sump. If you're running external, disregard the last part.

DJ

 

[amheck]

has anyone with a lot of hair algae used these and NOT had a substantial reduction in the growth? i.e. is everyone pretty happy with them overall?

 

[Yogre]

has anyone with a lot of hair algae used these and NOT had a substantial reduction in the growth? i.e. is everyone pretty happy with them overall?

Thus far I have NOT had any reduction in hair algae growth. As a matter of fact, I have had to resort to dosing Algaefix Marine to try to get a handle on the algae.

I just completed an arduous 3 days of scrubbing the damn algae off every rock in the tank. 300 pounds of live rock, that's not a lot of fun. I'm hoping that the Biopellets will now be able to adequately compete with the algae for nutrients.

NO3 and PO4 have always tested as Not Detectable with Salifert, I'm assuming the algae has grabbed them up as soon as they enter the water column. I've been skimming wet and still running GFO/GAC; I've been afraid to stop for fear of being completely overrun by the nasty crap.

My Biopellets are tumbling gently in a 22" Geo reactor, output ducted to my skimmer's intake.

Thus far, I'm inclined to call my Biopellets a failure...but I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. :sad1:

 

[SimonSKL]

Thus far I have NOT had any reduction in hair algae growth. As a matter of fact, I have had to resort to dosing Algaefix Marine to try to get a handle on the algae.

I just completed an arduous 3 days of scrubbing the damn algae off every rock in the tank. 300 pounds of live rock, that's not a lot of fun. I'm hoping that the Biopellets will now be able to adequately compete with the algae for nutrients.

NO3 and PO4 have always tested as Not Detectable with Salifert, I'm assuming the algae has grabbed them up as soon as they enter the water column. I've been skimming wet and still running GFO/GAC; I've been afraid to stop for fear of being completely overrun by the nasty crap.

My Biopellets are tumbling gently in a 22" Geo reactor, output ducted to my skimmer's intake.

Thus far, I'm inclined to call my Biopellets a failure...but I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. :sad1:

I have the same problem with GHA and have been running BP since 3/22/10 in addition to GFO and ATS. I have not seen a significant decrease in GHA growth since the addition of BP. The only obvious benefit that I can see with BP is better water clarity. I feed my fish about every other day and I don't think I am overfeeding. PO4 and NO3 are both zero or near zero (< 0.03 ppm) with Hanna Phosphate Checker and Salifert kit. I too am disappointed not seeing some immediate and better result from the BP on my GHA problem.

I have about 750ml of BP running in a NextReef reactor and they are rolling nicely in the reactor. Output of the reactor is plumbed to the intake of the skimmer with a tee. Skimmate production is quite good and the collection cup is half full in 3 days. I use BRS HC GFO and replace them about every 3-4 weeks.

All my SPS are doing quite well with new tips coming out. I just wish the algae will just die off.

 

[rutz81]

Have your overflow empty into a clean big gulp cup and overflow out from there. It won't solve the issue completely, but it'll help. Also, you don't have to glue in baffles. Sometimes you can get the water pressure to 'hold' the pieces of glass in place behind your return pump. I have 2 pieces of aquarium top glass wedged diagonally in my sump that strangles about 95% of the micro bubbles in there. OK, one more thing - place a PVC elbow over the intake of your return angling it downward towards the bottom of the sump, and nose it into a corner (the furthest corner away from your overflow). The suction from the pump, and nosing it into the corner should hold it in place. Use the 45 degree elbow, not the 90 degree one - Depending on the pump it'll suck itself to the bottom of the sump. If you're running external, disregard the last part.

DJ

Thanks DJ. I'll try those out, Do I really have to clean the Big Gulp? The Biopellets wont take care of a little Pepsi, too?

Or, would the added sugar in the cup provide an additional carbon source?? Just a theory.. :lol:

Please dont take that seriously.

 

[Yogre]

I have the same problem with GHA and have been running BP since 3/22/10 in addition to GFO and ATS. I have not seen a significant decrease in GHA growth since the addition of BP. The only obvious benefit that I can see with BP is better water clarity. I feed my fish about every other day and I don't think I am overfeeding. PO4 and NO3 are both zero or near zero (< 0.03 ppm) with Hanna Phosphate Checker and Salifert kit. I too am disappointed not seeing some immediate and better result from the BP on my GHA problem.

I have about 750ml of BP running in a NextReef reactor and they are rolling nicely in the reactor. Output of the reactor is plumbed to the intake of the skimmer with a tee. Skimmate production is quite good and the collection cup is half full in 3 days. I use BRS HC GFO and replace them about every 3-4 weeks.

All my SPS are doing quite well with new tips coming out. I just wish the algae will just die off.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one... I have anthias so I do feed daily, but I don't think I overfeed either.

Definitely hoping for some help with the GHA now that I've knocked it down. Maybe a rabbitfish and a clean-up crew refresh will help as well.

 

[thenewone]

well i have had some interesting results in just 9 day of use my my nitrate i ahd none and stayed the same but my phosphates were .5 and (hanna) i have none undetectible also what ive seen is that my pellets are still white they havent changed color like the one ive seen here also my skimmer has been working quite a bit more hope this helps thanks

 

[mal1099]

Well im running the vertex bio pellets at 1000ml. When i started this about 2 weeks ago i had 5-10 nitrates and .01.I started with half the recommended dosage and after the first 5 days both went to 0. I also got a bacterial bloom for 3 days that did clear up on its own. I let it run for a little over a week and noticed my nitrates went to 2.5 but phos was still 0. So i added the other half of my 1000ml package. Best part i have noticed in my tank is i dont have to scrap algea very much. think i have cleaned from of tank 2 times in 14 days. I also noticed i had to readjust my skimmer cause running it dry was no longer working had to run it wetter then i normally would. I have a decent bioload and im very happy with the results so far.



My tank is still young but i love this product so far.

 

[mal1099]

I dont know about all of your bio pellets mine instruct to NOT use with other phosphate removing media..

 

[daveonbass]

Dave does your skimmer produce more skimmate when you start to use bp? Do you see bacterial string inside the reactor or on bp surface? Do you see white bacterial strings anywhere in aquarium or sump?

No, the skimmer has produced the same or less. It started out less...after first introducing the pellets, and then finally it has ramped up to producing about the same as it used to. And no, to answer your next question, it is not any darker or nastier.

No, there are no bacterial strings in the reactor or on the BP surface, (the BP themselves).

No, there are no Bacterial strings anywhere in the aquarium or the sump...there never have been any since I started using the BP.

 

[daveonbass]

Maybe you just need a little more pellets to make sure that it will lower the levels instead of just maintaining it or maybe it's just not lowering the levels as fast as you wish it would. If it is a matter of speed I think the lowering would become more noticeable the lower your levels become.

As an example, say that the pellets decrease your NO3 by 1 ppm/week, when your levels are over 10 ppm then that decrease would be very hard to notice over a few weeks but if your levels is at say 2 ppm then that same 1 ppm/week decrease would be huge. I believe that the speed would slow down a bit when the levels get really low but I still believe that it could be much more noticeable at a lower initial level.

Yeah, I have thought that maybe I just need more. In other words...if My tank produces 10PPM a day of NO3, and the BP reduce the NO3 in the tank by 9~10PPM per day...then ergo...I see no change and it's just a way to maintain my current levels. So my next (and potentially last) test of these will be to add more (yes more money) to the reactor...and see if they reduce finally, or if they STILL stay the same.

I don't think it's a gradual lowering, if anything it would be a gradual raising of the NO3. (like in the example above) My nitrates have not ever gone DOWN...they have only ever stayed the same or gone UP slowly.

So yeah lets now try to add more...hehe

dave

 

[Wd40]

okay well i dont know what to do hear.. im using the vertex biopellets.. i am using 500ml in a dual brs reactor..
i put them in friday night and the tank has been cloudy since saturday.. nothing seems to clear it up, tried carbon and a filter sock.. and nothing..
So what do i do? do i perform a water change? idk
the only thing i notice is my skimmer is pulling out ALOT of skimmate..

 

[DJREEF]

crap. I was hoping to start the Vertex pellets this weekend. I think I may have to put that on hold until I hear more input. I can't put the lives of animals that I have had for more than a dozen years in jeopardy.

DJ