Opinions on bio pellets
- Thread starter luckyfish
- Start date
Pickupman66
New member
Bill is the Spert on the pellets. I am using the ecobak and already feel like I am seeing results. the water is CRYSTAL clear and so far, so good.
poolkeeper1
New member
Warner Marine
Warner Marine
The only ones I can comment on are the Eco-Bak Brand by Warner Marine.
I have been using them since their inception, Actually B4 they came out i got some from Jon Warner. I have had very good results with them in respect to keeping my Phosphates to almost undetectable levels along with Nitrate being the same low levels. And this is without the use of any other things like GFO or other means of reducing nutrients. It is a long process that i have found what works for me and that was giving the pellets ample time to be colonised with the proper bacteria to consume No3 and Po4 and keep them at very low levels. You must be patience and use other means to get the Phosphate out of your system to start with then find the correct amount of pellets to suite your demands then the EB will keep those levels in check by the carbon source in the pellets that are comsumed by the excess Phosphate/Nitrate.
The way i lowered mine in the first place was with GFO, Once they were very low and the pellets colonised i removed the GFO and have never looked back.
This process took many months and there were times I though this was all a bunch of Hooey, But It works for me. My Phos is around a steady 12 PPB or in PPM 0.036 PPM Which is very low. I have no algae at all other than Corraline and crystal clear water that looks like there is no water in the tank at all. My SPS has never looked better, Colors and growth are the best i have had ever.
To be fair there are people that have had no success at all with this product.
Bill
Warner Marine
The only ones I can comment on are the Eco-Bak Brand by Warner Marine.
I have been using them since their inception, Actually B4 they came out i got some from Jon Warner. I have had very good results with them in respect to keeping my Phosphates to almost undetectable levels along with Nitrate being the same low levels. And this is without the use of any other things like GFO or other means of reducing nutrients. It is a long process that i have found what works for me and that was giving the pellets ample time to be colonised with the proper bacteria to consume No3 and Po4 and keep them at very low levels. You must be patience and use other means to get the Phosphate out of your system to start with then find the correct amount of pellets to suite your demands then the EB will keep those levels in check by the carbon source in the pellets that are comsumed by the excess Phosphate/Nitrate.
The way i lowered mine in the first place was with GFO, Once they were very low and the pellets colonised i removed the GFO and have never looked back.
This process took many months and there were times I though this was all a bunch of Hooey, But It works for me. My Phos is around a steady 12 PPB or in PPM 0.036 PPM Which is very low. I have no algae at all other than Corraline and crystal clear water that looks like there is no water in the tank at all. My SPS has never looked better, Colors and growth are the best i have had ever.
To be fair there are people that have had no success at all with this product.
Bill
Pickupman66
New member
speak about the alkalinity bill.
poolkeeper1
New member
zef004
New member
me to what about akl
I allso had them running in all my tanks. for over 9-10months. they came out in euroope over a year ago and was waiting them to make there way in to the states. ecobac is way different then all NP pellet and pho pellets also brightwells wich these look,feel and smell the same. and ive used np pellets and brightwells. and i like ecobac. all the other ones i find that you will still need to run gfo for your po4. my seahorses didnt like them at all. they swim happly with the ecobac in there tank.
one thing make sure you run the output hose next to you intake pump to your skimmer.
also dont flip out when your tank get cloudy after so many days. its part of the cycle. it will clear up in no time.
hope this halps tim
I allso had them running in all my tanks. for over 9-10months. they came out in euroope over a year ago and was waiting them to make there way in to the states. ecobac is way different then all NP pellet and pho pellets also brightwells wich these look,feel and smell the same. and ive used np pellets and brightwells. and i like ecobac. all the other ones i find that you will still need to run gfo for your po4. my seahorses didnt like them at all. they swim happly with the ecobac in there tank.
one thing make sure you run the output hose next to you intake pump to your skimmer.
also dont flip out when your tank get cloudy after so many days. its part of the cycle. it will clear up in no time.
hope this halps tim
Pickupman66
New member
never mind.. just ignore me.
zef004
New member
Some softies and lps don't like too clean of water. But I am growing zoas poly and shrooms in my seahorse tank. But they eat like pigs. So I'm sure my po4&no3 is going up and down.
In display tank I have a scoly rare favia rare zoas and a tyree look alike leather. but mostly sps. Everything is fine and looks good I just feed alote and the flow throw the reactor just right. And my no3 is zero and po4 at .05-.07 with hanna PO meter. The big one not the checkometer.
In display tank I have a scoly rare favia rare zoas and a tyree look alike leather. but mostly sps. Everything is fine and looks good I just feed alote and the flow throw the reactor just right. And my no3 is zero and po4 at .05-.07 with hanna PO meter. The big one not the checkometer.
poolkeeper1
New member
No
No
The Pellets only consume those byproducts if they are present, If your Phosphate is non exsistance it does not consume or do anything. It is driven by the presence of Nitrate/Phosphate If there is none there they are inert.
This whole process is still new and might not be for everyone, It is geared towards tanks with mostly SPS IMO
Bill:wave:
No
The Pellets only consume those byproducts if they are present, If your Phosphate is non exsistance it does not consume or do anything. It is driven by the presence of Nitrate/Phosphate If there is none there they are inert.
This whole process is still new and might not be for everyone, It is geared towards tanks with mostly SPS IMO
Bill:wave:
Pickupman66
New member
Tim,
most folks use a reactor of sorts that will allow goo flow enough to cause the pellets to tumble gently. I have a BRS Dual chamber carbon/GFO reactor that I am using for mine. I use about 1000ml worth of the pellets which is about what my tank is "supposed to need" per research. my pellets gently tumble. BRS also makes a true pellet reactor with larger fittings that allows more flow. the one I have just gives enough flow at wide open. I am about 4 weeks into the pellets. 2 weeks ago, I noticed a bit of cloudy in my water. I could tell it was a bacteria bloom. it cleared in a day or two and my water looks clearer than ever before. I have always tested zero nitrates since I used that nitrate coil, but it will be going offline this weekend.
I also had an issue wth Hair algae caused by poor water going into my tank. I didnt have the RO hooked up yet. I am running GFO in a reactor now along with the pellets. I tested last night and PH4 was at .03ppm. the HA is now receeding very quickly and can actualy be blown off hte rock with a turkey baster. it is no longer the bright green but a very dull color.
I know as a combo that the pellets have kicked in and the gfo is working. once I get it where the phosphates are no longer in the system, I will remove the gfo and let my pellets do the job.
most folks use a reactor of sorts that will allow goo flow enough to cause the pellets to tumble gently. I have a BRS Dual chamber carbon/GFO reactor that I am using for mine. I use about 1000ml worth of the pellets which is about what my tank is "supposed to need" per research. my pellets gently tumble. BRS also makes a true pellet reactor with larger fittings that allows more flow. the one I have just gives enough flow at wide open. I am about 4 weeks into the pellets. 2 weeks ago, I noticed a bit of cloudy in my water. I could tell it was a bacteria bloom. it cleared in a day or two and my water looks clearer than ever before. I have always tested zero nitrates since I used that nitrate coil, but it will be going offline this weekend.
I also had an issue wth Hair algae caused by poor water going into my tank. I didnt have the RO hooked up yet. I am running GFO in a reactor now along with the pellets. I tested last night and PH4 was at .03ppm. the HA is now receeding very quickly and can actualy be blown off hte rock with a turkey baster. it is no longer the bright green but a very dull color.
I know as a combo that the pellets have kicked in and the gfo is working. once I get it where the phosphates are no longer in the system, I will remove the gfo and let my pellets do the job.
GT_Jacket
New member
I'll go there... many recommendations for when running ULNS that your Alk should be kept between 6.5 - 8.0 or "tip burn" is possible. I'm 70 days into Zeovit and loving it. Down the road, I will probably try swapping the Zeolites for pellets...
Bill - didn't I see a fuge in your sump? Did you remove that?
Brett
Last edited:
GT_Jacket
New member
If you are planning on going with one of the ULNS methods, I would leave the fuge out.
Yes, you can use GFO initially until the carbon/bac sources "kick in".
Some recommend exhausting the pellet reactor into the intake of the skimmer - others into the display (with the "mulm" being considered coral food).
I would take this into account for your sump design.
Yes, you can use GFO initially until the carbon/bac sources "kick in".
Some recommend exhausting the pellet reactor into the intake of the skimmer - others into the display (with the "mulm" being considered coral food).
I would take this into account for your sump design.
Pickupman66
New member
Thanks Brett. My return from the reactor dumps into my sump where it is picked up by the main pump and taken either to the skimmer or the display.
