N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[tntneon]

For me seeing same results after 6 weeks in my 24g. Skimmer has been offline for last three weeks working on getting a new mesh wheel. Since, seen a slight increase of a white biomass blotches appearing on glass occurring in more frequency on the glass. Assuming this is a bacterial bloom which is minor in my opinion.

Seeing great growth, color, and PE from SPS.

Nitrates Stayed at 17.6 using LaMotte Test Kit
Phosphates Stayed at 0.03 which is theoretically the best reading from the Hanna Photo Meter with minimal detectable phosphates.

Thinking of going from the 300 ml I installed in the TLF Reactor to the full 500 ml.

I would get my skimmer as quickly as possible back online , if i where U.
You need to skim of the bacteria if you want nutrient export and no bacterail blooms imo

greetingzz tntneon

 

[GeoffM1968]

I would get my skimmer as quickly as possible back online , if i where U.
You need to skim of the bacteria if you want nutrient export and no bacterail blooms imo

greetingzz tntneon

Thanks. Got it back in today and working threw another break in period until it settles in again.

 

[catman78]

3 week update:
Nitrates still between 5-7. No change since beginning NP.

PH seems to be running a little lower. I guess the bacteria are alive and breathing.

Like others,
Noticeable difference in PE on SPS.
Hard to tell effect on LPS, however all look well.

Running 500 ml NP through Phosban 550, maxijet 1200.
System volume around 120 net.

 

[tntneon]

3 week update:
Nitrates still between 5-7. No change since beginning NP.

PH seems to be running a little lower. I guess the bacteria are alive and breathing.

Like others,
Noticeable difference in PE on SPS.
Hard to tell effect on LPS, however all look well.

Running 500 ml NP through Phosban 550, maxijet 1200.
System volume around 120 net.

On my LPS (euphillia) , i don't see any differences since i started BP's
see alot of change (PE and color) on my acropora and montipora.

greetingzz tntneon

 

[catman78]

I've seen several reports so far regarding positive response in SPS(PE/Color).
Anyone care to offer an explanation?

 

[tmz]

Carbon dosing wether via pellets or other means may: enhance water clarity thus ehnancing lighting,reduce excess NO3 and PO4 with benefits to corals, provide some bacteria as a food source,and/or provide a carbon source for direct uptake by corals. Any or all of these might account for anecdotal accounts of enhanced coloration and pe. I have been dosing for over a year and have not discerned any change in color or pe except for some darkening in lobophylia when dosing sugar.

On the downside, carbon dosing may mess with bacterial balances in a harmful way and may lead to an organic carbon buildup.

 

[takayan]

In Japan, there is a similar product made of polyethylene glycol. Is polyethylene glycol biodegradable material?
BioPellets might be similar polymer. By the way, when you put the Biopellets in the water, would it be expanded?

 

[fernandokng]

What does this mean?

On the downside, carbon dosing may mess with bacterial balances in a harmful way and may lead to an organic carbon buildup.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

On the downside, carbon dosing may mess with bacterial balances in a harmful way and may lead to an organic carbon buildup.

I have heard this quite a few times. What kind of time frame are we talking about where it will be an issue. I have been doing for a year and a half and no issues so far.

 

[reggiepe]

I just started using the bio pellets today. This is my only form of Nitrate removal besides water changes. No fuge w/ macro, no dosing...nothing.

Nitrates = 5-10
Phosphate = ~.25

I really have high hopes for this. The science behind it seems like it should work. Time will tell.

 

[luther1200]

On the downside, carbon dosing may mess with bacterial balances in a harmful way and may lead to an organic carbon buildup.

Isn't that why a good skimmer is key? Theoretically all the carbon being added should be skimmed out with the bacteria, no?

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Isn't that why a good skimmer is key? Theoretically all the carbon being added should be skimmed out with the bacteria, no?

That was my thought. Sufficient skimmer = no issues. I would think after a year and a half of vodka dosing, if there was going to be an issue I would have had one. I have a deep sand bed also. Many times someone will have a tank crash and say they were vodka dosing and then everyone starts to theorize on why.

 

[solos2]

As a follow-up, my skimmer (BM 150 Pro) is producing skimmate like crazy since BPs were introduced, approximately 300-500ml of skimmate (semi-wet, more like a thick cup of coffee) collected everyday, and whew it stinks!

 

[tmz]

I have heard this quite a few times. What kind of time frame are we talking about where it will be an issue. I have been doing for a year and a half and no issues so far.

I have not had any apparent issues either after 13 months but I use two large skimmers and run rox granulated carbon 24/7 in an effort to manage against TOC(total organic carbon). Trouble is most of us can't measure TOC as we do PO4 and NO3 much less which bacteria are advantaged or disadvantaged by dosing ethanol, acetic acid, glucose, sucrose, etc. Attention to aggressive export of TOC is a necessary step when dosing an organic carbon source in my opinion.

 

[tntneon]

I have not had any apparent issues either after 13 months but I use two large skimmers and run rox granulated carbon 24/7 in an effort to manage against TOC(total organic carbon). Trouble is most of us can't measure TOC as we do PO4 and NO3 much less which bacteria are advantaged or disadvantaged by dosing ethanol, acetic acid, glucose, sucrose, etc. Attention to aggressive export of TOC is a necessary step when dosing an organic carbon source in my opinion.

hi tmz ,
-If one could measure TOC what would be an nice figure for a reeftank ?
Would this besides nitrate and phosphorus be a number that we have to keep as low as possible or in some sort of ratio ?

greetingzz tntneon

 

[kaskiles]

If one could measure TOC what would be an nice figure for a reeftank ?

This has some TOC levels listed for reef tanks:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/aafeature2/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not sure how you'd decide what is a good TOC for a reef tank. It's probably too course of a tool, as it would not distinguish a nice invert foodstuff from a terrible toxin.

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

In Japan, there is a similar product made of polyethylene glycol. Is polyethylene glycol biodegradable material?
BioPellets might be similar polymer. By the way, when you put the Biopellets in the water, would it be expanded?

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is biodegradable to some extent. It is commonly used as a biomaterial for implants and has a certain amount of degradation in the body. The degradation isn't particularly fast, and I'm not sure how it compares to this polymer.

 

[tntneon]

This has some TOC levels listed for reef tanks:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/aafeature2/

-thx kaskiles , an intresting article

I'm not sure how you'd decide what is a good TOC for a reef tank. It's probably too course of a tool, as it would not distinguish a nice invert foodstuff from a terrible toxin.

-yes that`s true , so TOC can be high from the nice invert foodstuff w/o being an threat to the tank?
At my work we can measure TOC , therefore i`m getting intrested to measure it ... , not that i have issues , i`m only curious... .

greetingzz tntneon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Measurements could be very interesting, especially as they relate to specific husbandry changes, but I can't see target levels being useful.