N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[pammy]

Ok, so what is the difference between NP Biopellets, and something like Seachem's DeNitrate? I know they are different materials, but does one work differently than the other? Does one work better than the other? I thought Seachem's DeNitrate removes Nitrates, but NP Biopellets claims to remove Nitrates AND phosphates?? I have been using Seachem's DeNitrate for the past 6 months or so. I wasn't able to get my nitrates below the 5-10 range for over a year, and within 2 weeks of adding Seachem's DeNitrate to my TLF reactor, my nitrates went down to zero. They stayed at zero for several months, and then kept back up to the 5-10 range, so I changed it out at that point. Do you still use a phosphate remover with the NP Biopellets? Thanks. Pam


http://www.marinedepot.com/NP_Biopellets_Filter_Media_Nitrate_Remover_Chemical_Filter_Media-NP_Biopellets-XB1113-FIFMCHNR-vi.html

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/denitrate.html

 

[mnml]

Going on my thrid week of using the BioPellets. I am noticing a major increase in sponge growth. Anyone else noticing this?

I just passed the 1 month mark and yes, I have noticed an increase. Cyano has gone away completely as well and starting to notice more polyp extension on SPS. So far so good

 

[rutz81]

Going on my thrid week of using the BioPellets. I am noticing a major increase in sponge growth. Anyone else noticing this?

This is what they look like:

I am wondering if not enough BioFilm is making it into my skimmer, therefore the sponges are feeding off of the excess biofilm in the water column. How I have it set up now is that the output is next to the skimmers intake, but, it is not a seal, by any means. I am going to "T" my skimmer so, that I can be sure more of the output of the reactor makes it into the skimmer.

Does anyone think this might be what is causing this or is it something else?

 

[amheck]

for those of you with hair algae, have you been noticing a significant decrease?

 

[tmz]

Ok, so what is the difference between NP Biopellets, and something like Seachem's DeNitrate? I know they are different materials, but does one work differently than the other? Does one work better than the other? I thought Seachem's DeNitrate removes Nitrates, but NP Biopellets claims to remove Nitrates AND phosphates?? I have been using Seachem's DeNitrate for the past 6 months or so. I wasn't able to get my nitrates below the 5-10 range for over a year, and within 2 weeks of adding Seachem's DeNitrate to my TLF reactor, my nitrates went down to zero. They stayed at zero for several months, and then kept back up to the 5-10 range, so I changed it out at that point. Do you still use a phosphate remover with the NP Biopellets? Thanks. Pam


http://www.marinedepot.com/NP_Biopellets_Filter_Media_Nitrate_Remover_Chemical_Filter_Media-NP_Biopellets-XB1113-FIFMCHNR-vi.html

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/denitrate.html

The Seachem product is just porous media which provides areas for nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to grow. It's porosity is claimed by the manufacturer to provide low oxygen areas conducive to the anaerobic bacterial activity( the bacteria use the oxygen in NO3 for energy, ie respiration,when not enough oxygen penetrates the pore ) not unlike live rock or sand beds, Such activity ,if it actually occurs efficiently, would reduce nitrate use some PO4 too.
The pellets provide not only surface area but also food ( the polymers are a source of organic carbon needed by denitrifying bnacteria) for the bacteria, so are likely to be more potent in nitrate removal and associated consumption of PO4 than plain porous media.

 

[builderguy]

I use the Seachem product and it does work pretty well. I am however going to make the jump to the N/P pellets to get N&P closer to zero.

 

[tegee]

For those of you use the NP pellets......can you please tell me what is the most common media reactor all of you are using? And how much I would need for a 180-gl DT? Also, does it have to tumble in the MR like GFO or Carbon; how much flow, etc? Any info or great tips would be a big help.

I read through over 40-pages of this thread and can not find an answer to these questions. This seems like a great way to help reduce nitrates and I would like to give a try if the upfront $$$ is not too high.

Many thanks.......

 

[rutz81]

For those of you use the NP pellets......can you please tell me what is the most common media reactor all of you are using? And how much I would need for a 180-gl DT? Also, does it have to tumble in the MR like GFO or Carbon; how much flow, etc? Any info or great tips would be a big help.

I read through over 40-pages of this thread and can not find an answer to these questions. This seems like a great way to help reduce nitrates and I would like to give a try if the upfront $$$ is not too high.

Many thanks.......

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6623

 

[mnml]

This is what they look like:

I am wondering if not enough BioFilm is making it into my skimmer, therefore the sponges are feeding off of the excess biofilm in the water column. How I have it set up now is that the output is next to the skimmers intake, but, it is not a seal, by any means. I am going to "T" my skimmer so, that I can be sure more of the output of the reactor makes it into the skimmer.

Does anyone think this might be what is causing this or is it something else?

I have a ton of these in my sump, overflow, and a few in my skimmer cone. Are they harmful?

 

[Eric Williams]

TEGEE,
In regards to your question about a recator and the amount of pellets needed here is what I am using with great results. I started off with a Nextreef reactor, the old style not the new for pellets, and could not get enough flow through the reactor to really get the pellets to tumble so I made my own. I am using a 4" x 24" clear plex tube with 3/4 inch inlets and outlets. I am running a Rio that is rated at 350 gph on a ball valve to slow down the flow just a touch. I am running 2 liters of the N/P pellets and it is working great. I have heard that the new Nextreef reactor that is design for the pellets works really well so you may look into that if you can not make your own. I have seen a huge increase in the gowth of my softies and my small cyano problem seems to be almost all gone. Phos is at zero and nitrates are at about 1.0. I hope this helps.

 

[SimonSKL]

for those of you with hair algae, have you been noticing a significant decrease?

I had chronic green hair algae problem for many months. I was running GFO prior to adding the BP. A month into the BP, my hair algae was rapidly disappearing so I took my GFO and ATS offline. 10 days later, the GHA came back so I restarted my ATS and GFO again. It's been about 3 weeks, the GHA are once again disappearing but slowly this time. I think if the nutrients in your tank is high, the BP alone will not remove nutrients (P&N) fast enough to keep GHA away.

 

[rutz81]

I have a ton of these in my sump, overflow, and a few in my skimmer cone. Are they harmful?

I have them in all the same places, except maybe also some on the rocks. I think they like high flow and I also wonder if the BioPellets are making them grow more?

 

[tegee]

TEGEE,
In regards to your question about a recator and the amount of pellets needed here is what I am using with great results. I started off with a Nextreef reactor, the old style not the new for pellets, and could not get enough flow through the reactor to really get the pellets to tumble so I made my own. I am using a 4" x 24" clear plex tube with 3/4 inch inlets and outlets. I am running a Rio that is rated at 350 gph on a ball valve to slow down the flow just a touch. I am running 2 liters of the N/P pellets and it is working great. I have heard that the new Nextreef reactor that is design for the pellets works really well so you may look into that if you can not make your own. I have seen a huge increase in the gowth of my softies and my small cyano problem seems to be almost all gone. Phos is at zero and nitrates are at about 1.0. I hope this helps.

Thanks Eric and Rutz81......

Just the info I was looking for. My eyes hurt after 40+ pages and couldn't find the simple answers you both provided. So I greatly appreciate you streamlining it for me. I will pick up a Nextreef reactor and 2L of pellets and get her up and running.

Will post my feedback in the coming weeks once I have it all plumbed, etc.

 

[jlinzmaier]

Most sponges feed off of bacterioplankton and I'm not surprised at all to see people indicating increased presence of rice sponges (like pictured) and other cryptic sponges. That is a really good sign. Encouraging the growth of cryptic sponges will also further clean the water as they also feed on the DOM. Imagine all the other micro/macro life that will flourish when provided with an increase in bacterioplankton.

I can't see how water changes would significantly impact the ability of the pellets to function properly. It would be impossible to remove all bacteria from a water change and after a few days of running I would assume that the biopellets are covered in bacteria (thus the significant release of bacterioplankton if the pellets are stirred up) therefore a water change would have little to no impact on the bacterial activity going on with the pellets.

Jeremy

 

[catman78]

Sign Guy

How about a few pictures of your DIY reactor?

Thanks

 

[Tony Romano]

Ok, so what is the difference between NP Biopellets, and something like Seachem's DeNitrate? I know they are different materials, but does one work differently than the other? Does one work better than the other? I thought Seachem's DeNitrate removes Nitrates, but NP Biopellets claims to remove Nitrates AND phosphates?? I have been using Seachem's DeNitrate for the past 6 months or so. I wasn't able to get my nitrates below the 5-10 range for over a year, and within 2 weeks of adding Seachem's DeNitrate to my TLF reactor, my nitrates went down to zero. They stayed at zero for several months, and then kept back up to the 5-10 range, so I changed it out at that point. Do you still use a phosphate remover with the NP Biopellets? Thanks. Pam


http://www.marinedepot.com/NP_Biopellets_Filter_Media_Nitrate_Remover_Chemical_Filter_Media-NP_Biopellets-XB1113-FIFMCHNR-vi.html

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/denitrate.html

Pellets are not the same thing, Seachem is a very porse media that become populated with bacteria. I suspect using pellets and SC is a good combo.

I have used just about every method attempting to get my tank in line. Seachem denitrate is one of the best, I use it as weel as ZEO and pellets. Long term I hope to stop using ZEO as much as possible. (Cost cutting, nothing against products).

ZEO did so so for me, however being 100% honest I feed too much to run ZEO. At some point I may do a little sps tank with T5s and 100% ZEO. For now I will stick with big mixed tanks.

 

[Tony Romano]

I had chronic green hair algae problem for many months. I was running GFO prior to adding the BP. A month into the BP, my hair algae was rapidly disappearing so I took my GFO and ATS offline. 10 days later, the GHA came back so I restarted my ATS and GFO again. It's been about 3 weeks, the GHA are once again disappearing but slowly this time. I think if the nutrients in your tank is high, the BP alone will not remove nutrients (P&N) fast enough to keep GHA away.

True, my tank is proof! What is ATS?

 

[Tony Romano]

Iam using zeo cv sp cs lps amino acids and phols extra with the pellets

should i remove my sump sock its getting full every three days??

Why remove sock? Remove it when it stops filling, everything would then go into DT or skimmer.

I did a 3 on 3 off for a bit, decided it was better on all the time.

 

[Eric Williams]

Here are some photos of the Reactor and my Tank.

 

[Tony Romano]

So have you noticed a significant reduction in pellets after 3 weeks? Or are you just getting ready for more?

I am running 1/2 of suggested amount, I attempt not to change chemisty to fast, as well as just wanted to try them.

:bounce2::bounce2::bounce2:

That is enough out of me for today! :lolspin: