NP Biopellets Filter Media

[naprestsleep]

Anyone local use NP Biopellets Filter Media? I have been following the threads here on RC about it and I am on the fence about trying it. I know I can just dose a carbon source but these seem easier to me, albeit more expensive.

Please sound off....

 

[naprestsleep]

Silence is golden.... But I know with the group who visits these pages there has to be someone using these pellets and many opinions/comments.

 

[gmneil]

interested in this as well

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I haven't tried them personally. I know some that have. My impression of these pellets:

*very expensive alternative to other methods
*not a "silver bullet" cure type thing

note that I'm not a fan of many reefkeeping methods (such as zeovit etc.) and (IMO/IME) any method of running a reef aquarium can easily be made to cost more money.

 

[tmz]

I have not tried them(too expensive especially for my 550gallons). I have read all the threads. They seem very convenient when you compare them to a denitrator and other methods. . I am dubious about claims that the carbon source and bacteria remain localized however. Some folks who know what they are doing are using them. The manufacturer seems like a good knowlegable guy who is willing to answer questions in a straight forward way. Personally I have had a good 15 months with vinegar and vodka dosing which is easy and less expensive.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

The manufacturer seems like a good knowlegable guy who is willing to answer questions in a straight forward way.

ditto that-

and (like Tom) I've been having success with other (much less expensive!) methods so why would I switch?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

fwiw

fwiw

I rarely (if ever) take pictures of the cryptic sponges and tunicates growing in my system but they're there.

JMO but I see people getting caught up in (sometimes expensive) methodologies to acheive the same results. The end result is what's important IMO- not the method of acheiving it. That's why I was attracted to dosing Lanthanum (ie: cheap and very effective!).

I don't want to dissuade anyone that's currently using NP biopellets from posting to this thread so let's hear it from you folks!

for those unaware here's what we're talking about:
http://www.npbiopellets.com/

 

[naprestsleep]

IF these pellets are found to be efficient at both nitrate and phosphate reduction I feel I can justify the cost difference between them and dosing vodka, vinegar, sugar, LA etc. The main reason I can justify is that the pellets allow me to be more hands off than the alternatives, and seem to allow a little more room for error.

I am not looking at it as a the magic bullet but another tool to add to my belt for controlling these levels. I have spare reactor and think once I have the spare "fish fund" cash I may buy some of the pellets and try them.

 

[tmz]

Just like any carbon dosing scheme , additional phosphate reduction( ie gfo. etc) for the low range stuff is still recommended. My primary reason for dosng carbon(vodka, vinegar; not sugar-some corals didn't like it at all) is nitrate not phosphate, although it helps with the later as well.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I have spare reactor and think once I have the spare "fish fund" cash I may buy some of the pellets and try them.

if you go for it let us know what happens.

Even if they work "as advertised" I (personally) cannot justify their present cost.

 

[johno4]

if you go for it let us know what happens.

Even if they work "as advertised" I (personally) cannot justify their present cost.

I agree. Thier just so expensive

 

[naprestsleep]

The initial cost is expensive, but depending on how fast they are used up I think the long term cost may be more reasonable.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

tip

tip

I know of some extremely knowledgable folks using these and their reviews are less than glowing

 

[kc350twin]

I would really like to hear some less than glowing reviews from actual users. Let's hear em'.

KC3

 

[tmz]

Here is the main thread on the pellets:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1694529

Plenty of user experiences good and bad are in it. Along with much technical discussion.

My read is that the pellets don't seem superior or inferieor to other methods such as denitrators and/or other forms of carbon dosing. They do work at NO3 reduction, the bacteria will obviously take up some PO4 too. The pellets are simply a carbon source and may be a good way to go for some but there are issues noted with some bad batches containing extra lipids leading to skimmer malfunctions and some issues with hydrogen sulfide if flow rates are not managed well. All in all they require careful applications and monitoring similar to other NO3 reduction methods in my opinion.

 

[GMaquarium]

This is a great method of carbon dosing for those who do not like sugar or vinegar and are under the age of 21.

 

[naprestsleep]

Good way to put it G.

 

[kc350twin]

This is a great method of carbon dosing for those who do not like sugar or vinegar and are under the age of 21.

Ha!!!!! Never even thought of that. Under age reefers.