New Formula NP Biopellets????

There are some guys here in KC that just started using them and giving up their Zeovit systems. Waiting to see their results before I try.
 
Why are you comparing them to Zeovit, which targets using specific strains of bacteria, as opposed to just supplying a food source for all of them? Do the new pellets work differently, more like Zeovit? I guess I need to do some more reading up on them.
 
kevinpratt823 said:
Why are you comparing them to Zeovit, which targets using specific strains of bacteria, as opposed to just supplying a food source for all of them? Do the new pellets work differently, more like Zeovit? I guess I need to do some more reading up on them.
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they work differently but have the same end result, at a cheaper price too.
 
kevinpratt823 said:
Why are you comparing them to Zeovit, which targets using specific strains of bacteria, as opposed to just supplying a food source for all of them? Do the new pellets work differently, more like Zeovit? I guess I need to do some more reading up on them.
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The pellets also target specific bacterial species. The polymer used will have a substantial impact on which bacterial species lives and thrives off the pellets. In theory and at least in terms of using bacteria as a means to export nuntrients, both the biopellet system and zeovit system operate under very similar methodologies. As such, it may, indeed, be appropriate to use the pellets instead of zeovit. Now, the big difference here is that the pellet system provides no mechanism to re-add desired nutrients, such as amino acids, vitamins, etc., which corals need and which are sometimes striped out by the bacteria and low nutrient environment. I suppose that you could add these items back when using the pellets much in the same way you do so with zeovit.
 
There is also a theory that the pellets can feed either bacteria, good OR bad, beneficial OR pathogenic or something. I think Zeovit more specifically targets good bacteria.
FWIW, I'm not running either Zeovit or Biopellets(yet....), but I am certainly intrigued by all this.
 
kevinpratt823 said:
There is also a theory that the pellets can feed either bacteria, good OR bad, beneficial OR pathogenic or something. I think Zeovit more specifically targets good bacteria.
FWIW, I'm not running either Zeovit or Biopellets(yet....), but I am certainly intrigued by all this.
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Both zeovit and the pellets can feed both "good" or "bad" bacteria. The exact make up of the carbon source (polymer in the case of pellets and unknown substance for zeovit) will influence which bacteria dominates and outcompetes the others. For example, when dosing vodka, many report cynobacterial blooms b/c cyno seems to really like ethanol and can outcompete other bacteria for it. As such, many switch to vinegar and do not have cyno bacteria problems because other bacteria can outcompete the cyno for the acetone in the vinegar. Now, where the zeovit system differs a bit from the pellet system is in addition to adding a carbon source to feed bacteria, zeovit also involves adding actual bacteria to the sytem where the pellet system does not. By adding actual bacteria to the system in addition to a carbon source, you are giving the bacterial species added a theoretical leg up on out competing the other bacteria in the system for the carbon source. As such, I guess you could say that zeovit targets particular bacteria strains in so far as it directly adds bacterial species to the system to increase their numbers and increase the liklihood that these species have a competitive advantage in consuming the carbon source. However, the same could be accomplished with the pellets by simply adding live bacteria also which many peoiple are doing, particularly when they are trying to colonize the pellets with bacteria more quickly when first puting the pellets on line in the system.
 
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Well put. I have been wondering how it would work to dose a Biopellet system with the Zeovit bacterias, you're saying people are doing it?.....
 
kevinpratt823 said:
Well put. I have been wondering how it would work to dose a Biopellet system with the Zeovit bacterias, you're saying people are doing it?.....
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Correct, particularly in the begining to "seed" the pellets. However, it should be noted that simply adding these desireable bacteria does not mean that they will dominate the pellets over other species and what often occurs is that such domination occurs initially but over time other bacterias overcome the competive advantage given to the bacterial species artificially added. No one knows which carbon sources utilmately work best increasing the mass of any particular bacterial species in the context of aquaria. Plus, there are other variables in the equation which I do not fully understand.
 
jjsan said:
what is NP biopellet?
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In very simple terms, biopellets go in a reactor, and supply food to bacteria that in turn consume nitrate/phosphate. Then the bacteria is removed with heavy skimming. It is a ne and efficient form of nutrient export, do a search and I'm sure you'll find all you want to know.
Oh, and a shameless plug for Patrick at Aqua Addicts(LFS) in Salem, NH. He's always on top of the new innovations, that's where I saw these.
 
looks like it isnt any different except they made the pellets smaller like all the other copmanies are doing, smaller pellet = easy to agitate
 
Speaking of the "new formula."
Two weeks ago I made the leap and purchased a 1000ml bag of the pellets. I recieved the bag that says "new formula," which I was not expecting. I've been reading for a long time about the pellets and have been impressed with the orginal formula, which I thought I was purchasing. My LFS has sent an email to his distributor, but has not recieved a response. Can anyone tell us how/why the new formula is better/different?
 
ehutchby said:
Speaking of the "new formula."
Two weeks ago I made the leap and purchased a 1000ml bag of the pellets. I recieved the bag that says "new formula," which I was not expecting. I've been reading for a long time about the pellets and have been impressed with the orginal formula, which I thought I was purchasing. My LFS has sent an email to his distributor, but has not recieved a response. Can anyone tell us how/why the new formula is better/different?
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What I have been told is that the new formula contains no fillers and instead is pure polymer carbon source for the bacteria. The new pellets are also smaller so as to create more surface area and make them easier to fluidize. Otherwise, I know of no other differences between the new and old pellets.
 
+1, I just spoke with Aquarium Specialty's owner, the distributor of the pellets in North America, very helpfull guy. He confirmed that the new formula contains less fillers, starches, and has more pure carbon source.
 
Stuart60611 said:
What I have been told is that the new formula contains no fillers and instead is pure polymer carbon source for the bacteria. The new pellets are also smaller so as to create more surface area and make them easier to fluidize. Otherwise, I know of no other differences between the new and old pellets.
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If you take a note at the color the new formula actually has a darker coloration & shape similar to the competing pellets such as Vertex and TLF and Warner Marine (WM not on shape, just color)
 
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