N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[DJREEF]

I don't see why not. The two do different things.

DJ

 

[rutz81]

I ordered the Next Reef NP BioPellets Reactor and a Mag 3. Went out today, should have it early next week. I'll let you guys know how I make out.

 

[chercm]

This could be significant. HLE might possibly be a result of sulphur toxicity. I wonder if anyone has looked into this.

DJ

and that is why you need a controller like Aquamedic Orp controller to take care of the negative orp

 

[Psionicdragon]

Shapelock is polycaprolactone, isn't it? I think I remember Randy saying it was. The NP pellets may be the same thing. In any event I don't think the patent would affect Shapelock as it's not marketed as an aquarium NO3 reducer, but rather a moldable modeling plastic.

Disclaimer: I'm not a patent attorney, and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

I'm currently running 1 liter of the NP Biopellets in a Geo 22" reactor, but they've only been in for 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to being able to share my results.

I don't recall Randy saying it was PCL. can you provide a link?

 

[rbonick]

Has anyone experienced a drop in alkalinity while using these?

 

[Psionicdragon]

Now this is the type of stuff that I was looking for when I inquired as to results a couple of pages back. We need more folks to step forward, so we can learn conclusively whether or not these things actually work. People have been using the pellets now for 6 months +. My bet is that, for the majority, they don't live up to the hype. I want to be proven wrong.

DJ

Actually, it seems like a majority of users are having benefits to it.

In general, if nitrate and phosphate aren't coming down, then you need to increase the flow in the reactor or making some adjustments. What I have noticed from my experiments are the following:

1) if it barely tumbles, then my phosphate and nitrate does not go down.
2) if it tumbles similar to GFO, then it slightly, very slightly reduces phosphate and ntirate.
3) if it tumbles like water boiling, where the bottom media is pushed up and the top media flowing down, then I see better results.

Also, depending on the bioload of the reefer's tank, more media may be necessary to assist in reduce the overall phosphate and nitrate because in my thoughts, there aren't enough bacteria to consume the excess bioload. If I remember correctly, bacteria consumes a good amount of oxygen, and PH eventually drops. The requirement and suggestion of a skimmer helps compensate for the lost in oxygen, drop in ph, and removal of the bacteria.

The way I gauge if the product is working by a couple of method:

1) The decrease in amount of phosphate and nitrate over the period
2) The drop in PH from the effluent of the reactor.


In addition, if the adjustments were made accordingly, then in 4-6 weeks, you should see significant improvement. You may see faster improvement if the media has already been pre-populated.

For longer use, I theorize that as the media is consumed, there would be less surface space for the bacteria to colonize (the media degrades or is consumed), which would reduce the population of the bacteria as they are skimmed out, and thus may reduce the effectiveness of the media. That is why media is continued to be replenish.

However, if there was an additional type of a media that degrades slower compare to the PCL and used in conjunction, then a base population of bacteria would be established on that type of media, but will be less when the PCL is reduce compare to a full load of PCL. The bacteria could readily resume at a quicker pace compare to reestablishing itself without the additional media.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts.

 

[joao junior]

hi,i start with pellets (500ml)in a TLF reactor and need help,i do anything more??i stop dose vodka??i dose microbcter,i stop too???tanks.

 

[Yogre]

N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

I don't recall Randy saying it was PCL. can you provide a link?

I'm stuck on my iPhone and my search capability is pretty limited, I'll have to look when I get home in a couple of days.

In the meantime, if my memory serves, the thread was a DIY biopellets thread Randy participated in that's been inactive for a while, it may be a few pages back here on Reef Chem.

 

[Psionicdragon]

I'm stuck on my iPhone and my search capability is pretty limited, I'll have to look when I get home in a couple of days.

In the meantime, if my memory serves, the thread was a DIY biopellets thread Randy participated in that's been inactive for a while, it may be a few pages back here on Reef Chem.

Oh that thread. Randy said IO is PCL. Not Shapelock. He and another, iirc, warned of using something that maybe risky.

 

[HighlandReefer]

The Instant Ocean Biopolymer is made of polycaprolactone. The Friendly Plastics & Shapelock products are made of polycaprolactone also.

Instant Ocean Biopolymer Nitrate Reducer
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1766100

We have been told that the NP Biopellets are not made of polycaprolactone.

 

[rutz81]

hi,i start with pellets (500ml)in a TLF reactor and need help,i do anything more??i stop dose vodka??i dose microbcter,i stop too???tanks.

Hello, I would stop dosing vodka, since they do the same thing. I does MB7 also and I asked JP(creator of Biopellets) if I should stop that and he said to continue those for 3 weeks while the pellets are colonized with bacteria, then to cease that and just let the pellets take care of it.

HTH,
-Dave

 

[rutz81]

Actually, it seems like a majority of users are having benefits to it.

In general, if nitrate and phosphate aren't coming down, then you need to increase the flow in the reactor or making some adjustments. What I have noticed from my experiments are the following:

1) if it barely tumbles, then my phosphate and nitrate does not go down.
2) if it tumbles similar to GFO, then it slightly, very slightly reduces phosphate and ntirate.
3) if it tumbles like water boiling, where the bottom media is pushed up and the top media flowing down, then I see better results.


.

How much are you running, what pump/reactot are you using?

 

[joao junior]

thanks rutz.

 

[catman78]

Any recommendations for a pump?

Maxijet 1200 ain't working. I'm running 1000 ml in a Phosban 550 reactor.

thanks

 

[daveonbass]

Any recommendations for a pump?

Maxijet 1200 ain't working. I'm running 1000 ml in a Phosban 550 reactor.

thanks

I have 500ml in a 550 reactor, with a quietone 3000 pump (700+ gph) and I can still only get half of them to tumble. So if you figure it out, please let me know.

 

[ChuckG]

I have 500ml in a 550 reactor, with a quietone 3000 pump (700+ gph) and I can still only get half of them to tumble. So if you figure it out, please let me know.

Maybe it is the width of some of these reactors that is a problem?

Using a standard DI media reactor I have not had much of problem getting them all to move.. but the media inserts on these are are not as wide as some of the other reactors.

 

[rutz81]

Maybe it is the width of some of these reactors that is a problem?

Using a standard DI media reactor I have not had much of problem getting them all to move.. but the media inserts on these are are not as wide as some of the other reactors.

The NextReef reactor which is made for the pellets only reccomends a Mag3, wonder if that will be enough.

 

[daveonbass]

I think it has more to do with the size of the fittings too. Half inch plumbing is maybe to small for my purpose with the reactor.

I'm wondering if any of the other reactors have larger fittings?

 

[builderguy]

Warner Marine is about to release a version of these too. I'm definitely considering switching to this product...it's kinda pricey to start off though.

 

[Psionicdragon]

How much are you running, what pump/reactot are you using?

I am running 500ml in TF (small reactor) with the O ring removed. I have a maxi 1200 blowing through it.