xlotus123x
New member
This is a really informative thread.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
Vertex Pro Bio Pellets
- Thread starter bmwaaron
- Start date
rguyler
New member
Oh yeah...smellier for sure!
I "think" my GHA is starting to thin out a bit on the rocks although the stuff on the plumbing and powerheads doesn't seem to have changed much. I've cleaned some clumps caught in the overflow strainer so I think something is starting to work. Maybe I should take a picture now as a reference for comparison in a couple of weeks.
I never had the big bacterial bloom although my water was cloudy a little for a couple of days then cleared up. I added less than the full amount as has been suggested several times and after the water cleared up added the rest of the 1L bag for 300 gallons. Depending on how the GHA continues to break down, I might add more before it's over.
rguyler
New member
By the way, how much water are all of you running through your BP? I'm using a TLF500 reactor with the valves wide open and the BP is tumbling at a fairly constant rate. I just wonder if maybe I'm running too much flow through the BP since I haven't had many of the typical symptoms many of you have, like more of a bloom, bacterial strings, slurry water in the reactor (my reactor water is clear although there are clumps of bacteria caught in the strainer).
nivram
New member
I'll have to see if I have before and after pics. But after running the vertex pellets for 4+ months. I have eliminated the majority of mu nussiance algae. I did notice within the first month or wo it seemed like algae began to increase. At this point I started back up running cheato in my sump and haven't looked back since.
mistaflicksta
New member
haven't finished reading this whole thread. I currently have everything needed to start the biopellet regiment but am holding off till I read more on it.
nivram
New member
No, my chaeto stopped growing and died back prior to running pellets. I ended up adding it back when I noticed algae growth increase while running pellets.
rguyler
New member
My pellets have never clogged in my reactor. They did clump up a bit at first when they didn't tumble well but I added more pellets, which made them tumble much better (less channeling now?) and they haven't clumped since. I did replace the sponge filters with plastic mesh, which seems to be a requirement.
I just ordered the pellets and they will be here on Monday. I do have a hi KH at 12. I am wondering how I can get it down to a level that it wont burn the corals. I dose 2 part B-Ionic but I havent done that for 3 days hoping to bring the level down. Any suggestions on how to get KH down to a safer level? Thanks!
nivram
New member
If your salt mix has a lower alk level. You could always do water changes.
Thats what Im going to do. Water change without adding 2 part. Thanks!
jnc914
Active member
My experience is almost identical to thebanker. I am using the Vertex biopellets for roughly 3 weeks. I am up to using the entire 1000ml bag on my 250 gallon(total water volume). I see an increase in all nuisance algaes, including GHA, Cyano, brown slime, and now bryopsis. After speaking to some other people using solid carbon dosing and getting the same type of results, I put GFO (Rowa Phos) and GAC(Kent Reef) online. I am seeing a slight decline in the nuisance algae. The skimmer is producing darker, nasty smelling skimmate. My PH has stabilized, my alk is at 10, and Calcium is steady at 460. My coral frags look amazing, coloring up and getting new growth on their tips. I don't plan on giving up on the pellets yet. I may try the EcoBak or Brightwell brand biopellets. I haven't lost faith yet. I do intend on adding more random flow in the tank, maybe shorten the light cycle a bit.
Don't lose faith yet. I haven't. The nuisance algaes are starting to go away in my system... I think.
I initially took GFO offline, and I think this was a mistake. So I recently added back a product in my canister called "Fluval Clearmax" (formerly Fluval Phos-X). I got it because it was cheap and easily available at Petsmart. It looks like GFO, feels like GFO, and tastes like GFO. Ok I didn't taste it but I added 2 bags to my canister to try and lower PO4. Stay tuned!
I initially took GFO offline, and I think this was a mistake. So I recently added back a product in my canister called "Fluval Clearmax" (formerly Fluval Phos-X). I got it because it was cheap and easily available at Petsmart. It looks like GFO, feels like GFO, and tastes like GFO. Ok I didn't taste it but I added 2 bags to my canister to try and lower PO4. Stay tuned!
The alkalinity should drop on its own if supplementation is stopped. 12 dKH should be fine for the short term. The only way to lower it directly is water changes with a lower dKH source or dosing a mineral acid into the tank. I wouldn't risk mineral acid dosing, and I don't think it's worth the effort to do the water changes at this point.
tcwoodrn
Member
I started using Vertex Biopellets in my 75g with 30g fuge tank a little over two weeks ago. I started with 15ppm of nitrates (I do not have a starting phos level because I don't have a hanna). Within 2 days my nitrates fell to 0. After feeding 4x more I saw an increase to 5ppm so I added more pellets. I currently have <5ppm nitrates and am dosing the pellets at a 100ml/100L ratio. I took a water sample to a local buddy and he tested my water last night with his hanna and my PO4 was 0.03. I am considering adding a reactor to run GFO, but I will wait and see as I don't know if this is an increase or decrease from my starting level.
I would say that my corals look better than before, and at very worse look the same. My fish are much happier because of the increased feedings.
I would say that my corals look better than before, and at very worse look the same. My fish are much happier because of the increased feedings.
Reefer Mike
New member
I began to use these pellets with the aquaristik reactor 5 days ago, my nitrates and phosphates were low to start. I am using 60ml/100L of the pellets currently and haven't seen any changes with the aquarium yet. certainly no crazy skimming like others experienced and no algae blooms either. my phosphate is at 0.03 and my nitrates are undetectable. How long should it take for the colour in my sps to really pop and brighten like others noticed? thanks!
Except the Stylos, Pocillopora and Montis, at least in my rig, started bleaching @ 12dKH. I had to take evasive with the water changes. This of course, was my setup, so to each his own. If your heavy in these Genuses then I would consider doing gradual partials until it comes down a bit. It seems the break point for my setup was about 10dKH.
DJ
Similar threads
