Starting NP Biopellets

EvMiBo

EvMiBo

VictoriaConcordiaCrescit
Decided to give these a try. I added 4 new rocks to the tank a couple months back and they've taken off with green hair algae, despite what seems to be low NO3 and PO4 readings. The rocks were completely dried out (bulkreefsupply). I'm hoping to see the GHA go away and get better skimming and coral colors, all the things an organic carbon source should do - right? :rollface:

Here are some pictures and videos to begin: The pellets were started 4/7/10.

Elos Nitrate testkit. ~1??
NPbiopellets002.jpg


Elos Phosphate testkit. Looked undetectable to me - I imagine the GHA consuming it?
NPbiopellets004.jpg


What I'm dealing with.
NPbiopellets010.jpg


NPbiopellets011.jpg


NPbiopellets012.jpg


NPbiopellets005.jpg


setting up
NPbiopellets007.jpg


had to shake it a couple times to get the pellets moving, seems like they want to clump together initially.
NPbiopellets008.jpg
 
short vid (last night).


another vid (this afternoon) I was using the pvc to vibrate them, kind of like hitting a ketchup bottle ;)


The pellets seem to be moving more today, as I said above they were clumping together. After a couple shakes and mixing them up with a small pvc pipe they're looking better.
 
what size tank is this on...?

I ask becasue in the other thread (thanks for your link BTW) many people there recommend the 550 over the 150. I have a smaller tank, 58g, and can't imagine I would need more than 500ml of biopellets at a time...and yours seems to be working great to me...

So are you happy with the 150, or would you have upgraded to bigger if you had to do it all over again?

dave
 
This is on a 50g display with about 15g water volume below in the sump. One of the greatest things about these pellets is that you can't overdose them, that's why I added all of them. I don't plan on ever needing more than 500ml (on this tank at least) so the 150 works for me in this situation; I'm happy with the selection thus far.

The pellets are still clumping together in some spots, especially towards the top but I've heard that this should be gone soon, with uniform motion throughout the reactor.
 
I'm kindof interested in the biopellets.. This is a type of carbon dosing right? I really don't know anything about them. Any good info on them I can read?
 
By Friday (48 hrs later) the pellets no longer needed to be shaken to get rid of the clumps. They're now all moving well and I'm pleased to say that my skimmate production is a denser foam then I've ever seen, though it isn't consistent yet (that could be because I cleaned the skimmer neck and collection cup when I added the pellets, it usually takes a little for everything to get consistent again). The GHA seems to be more fragile in it's tips (lights are out right now) - I'll try to snap a picture when they're on tomorrow.

NPbiopellets017.jpg


 
Hey your last video is wicked.
I have been running NP pellets for a couple months now in the same TLF150 reactor but all the pellets go straight to the top and there is some tumbling at the bottom but i don't get the full tumbling throughout the reactor like you do. I am supplying the reactor from a manifold off my return pump
 
Padrino said:
Hey your last video is wicked.
I have been running NP pellets for a couple months now in the same TLF150 reactor but all the pellets go straight to the top and there is some tumbling at the bottom but i don't get the full tumbling throughout the reactor like you do. I am supplying the reactor from a manifold off my return pump
Click to expand...

It sounds like you need to close the valve on the reactor and bump the reactor a couple times - mine was doing that originally but as long as you keep separating them for a couple days the problem should go away. Good Luck :)
 
Tagging along to see your results. My water volume is about the same as yours.

After setting this up would you have gone with another reactor?
 
I think your gonna want to get rid of the sponges in the reactor. They tend to clog and slow the tumble. I used Needle point mesh from Michael's Crafts.

805d37aa.jpg


It also keeps those pellets at bay and prevents the escapees.

Keep us posted.

Kc3
 
Hey there,

Thanks for the interest and advice.

drouner- I don't think I would add another reactor, this seems to be a slow process and it's hard to say how much another reactor would increase the progress. Since you can't overdose these I kind of assume the results would be minimal, but I could be wrong. If I were to add another 500ml + reactor, instead I would get one of those nextreef reactors probably.. Something you have to think about as well, especially with a slightly small system is the addition of another pump or one larger pump (to push 1L of pellets) and therefore possibly more heat. I'm satisfied with my 500ml in the TLF150.

kc- I've read about others using similar mesh like circles. I've also noticed that my sponges have been a little gunk'd up. I need to get myself to michaels sometime, thanks.

So it's been a little over a month and I'm satisfied with the results but not completely yet. I love the fact that it's basically set it and forget it but maybe I'm a little greedy when it comes to the the GHA still being there, though it has definitely gone down. I have never used GFO or any other phosphate reducers so it's impossible for me to compare results, but I'd say the GHA has gone down around 50% from all those pictures... So something definitely happening ;) I'll get some pictures up when I get some time.
 
kc350twin said:
I think your gonna want to get rid of the sponges in the reactor. They tend to clog and slow the tumble. I used Needle point mesh from Michael's Crafts.

805d37aa.jpg


It also keeps those pellets at bay and prevents the escapees.

Keep us posted.

Kc3
Click to expand...

Great idea!! thanks!
 
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