jpatrician
Premium Member
Think I will start with 250ml (the recommended dose for my system according to the package). Can't wait to start. Keep you posted.
Vertex Pro Bio Pellets
- Thread starter bmwaaron
- Start date
Think I will start with 250ml (the recommended dose for my system according to the package). Can't wait to start. Keep you posted.
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
Start with 1/2 of the recomended dose- go slow.:beer:
steevareno2002
New member
I've been running roughly 150ml in a mesh bag in my HOB filter. I'm wondering if I can use them in a ViaAqua poly hang-on reactor since I don't have a sump? I just cleaned my glass and there's a whiteness to it and alot less brown diatoms.
jpatrician
Premium Member
Day 1
Day 1
I have officially started my Bio Pellet journey. I chose to start of with 250ml for my ~100g total volume system. I have converted my GEO 412 media reactor with the GEO Biopellet Reactor MOD Screen Set purchased from Premium Aquatics. Below are some pics. More info to come as things progress.
Day 1
I have officially started my Bio Pellet journey. I chose to start of with 250ml for my ~100g total volume system. I have converted my GEO 412 media reactor with the GEO Biopellet Reactor MOD Screen Set purchased from Premium Aquatics. Below are some pics. More info to come as things progress.
Stuart60611
New member
jpatrican:
From your picture posted you have a problem with how you placed the media in the reactor. It appears from the picture that quite a bit of the media has fallen below the bottom mesh screen siting on top of the bottom black plastic disk. This media will not be fluidized and could create a problem. I have basicly the same reactor (GEO 420) and had a similar issue. What you have to do is have the mesh screen properly lined up on the bottom plastic disk before you put the media in the reactor. You then need to SLOWLY spoon in the media on top of the screen so as not to move or displace the screen and allow the media to get below the screen and on the bottom of the reactor below the bottom plastic disk as is shown in your picture.
From your picture posted you have a problem with how you placed the media in the reactor. It appears from the picture that quite a bit of the media has fallen below the bottom mesh screen siting on top of the bottom black plastic disk. This media will not be fluidized and could create a problem. I have basicly the same reactor (GEO 420) and had a similar issue. What you have to do is have the mesh screen properly lined up on the bottom plastic disk before you put the media in the reactor. You then need to SLOWLY spoon in the media on top of the screen so as not to move or displace the screen and allow the media to get below the screen and on the bottom of the reactor below the bottom plastic disk as is shown in your picture.
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jpatrician
Premium Member
Thanks Stuart! I will address that right away.
jpatrician
Premium Member
Just want to say thanks again Stuart! This ended up being what Bob Ross would call a "happy little accident". I was not happy with the mesh because it kept letting the pellets sneak through the sides. I ended up taking the plate out of an old Korallin calcium reactor I had in the basement and zip-tied the mesh to it. Not only did this keep the pellets from falling through the sides, it evened out the flow so that the pellets are now uniformly tumbling instead of just one side. Pics and a short video posted below.
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Stuart60611
New member
jpatrician:
My pleasure and glad I was able to help. You bring up a point I see in my reactor. I know what you mean about how you were before geting much more movement on one side. Your flow is now much more even than mine, but is also much more vigorous. I am powering a full liter in virtually the same reactor as yours except about twice as tall. I would venture to say I am pushing about 400 gph since my pump rated at 620 has been ball valved to 2/3 open. How does zip tying the bottom mesh to the bottom disk even out the flow? It appears in my set up that I have quite a bit of media, although fluidized, siting on top of the mesh and the mesh seems to be resting fairly even and steady on the disk. I have no pellets escaping the mesh and have had none so escape since puting the reactor on line about 4 or 5 days ago (note that I did not have to cut my screens b/c my reactor came with the mesh screens like yours in the picture and mesh screens pre-cut to size so they fit perfectly). I think I may try to up the flow and see if my pellets are fluidized more evenly. I was geting a more even flow as I increased it, but I do not have my pellets moving nearly as much as yours are now.
My pleasure and glad I was able to help. You bring up a point I see in my reactor. I know what you mean about how you were before geting much more movement on one side. Your flow is now much more even than mine, but is also much more vigorous. I am powering a full liter in virtually the same reactor as yours except about twice as tall. I would venture to say I am pushing about 400 gph since my pump rated at 620 has been ball valved to 2/3 open. How does zip tying the bottom mesh to the bottom disk even out the flow? It appears in my set up that I have quite a bit of media, although fluidized, siting on top of the mesh and the mesh seems to be resting fairly even and steady on the disk. I have no pellets escaping the mesh and have had none so escape since puting the reactor on line about 4 or 5 days ago (note that I did not have to cut my screens b/c my reactor came with the mesh screens like yours in the picture and mesh screens pre-cut to size so they fit perfectly). I think I may try to up the flow and see if my pellets are fluidized more evenly. I was geting a more even flow as I increased it, but I do not have my pellets moving nearly as much as yours are now.
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jpatrician
Premium Member
Stuart - It's the plate from the Korallin that I believe is evening out the flow, not the zip-tied mesh. I am using the mesh to keep the pellets from falling through the holes of the plate. The Korallin plate is forcing the water to go through the uniform holes which I fell is evening out the flow in the reactor. Before I added the plate, I was getting the majority of my flow running to only one side. I have teed off my MAG 9.5 (which I use for my return pump) to feed the reactor.
Stuart60611
New member
I see. I am geting disproportionate flow with much more concentrated to one side. I am geting movement through most of the media, although may be a dead spot or two, but it is not even like yours. Maybe dilling holes in the bottom disk is the answer, but I am not rushing to do that.:hammer:
sedorusc
New member
they should tumble. you might want to give your reactor a shake or check your flow.
Thrashie
Not a lowlife 25%'er
a maxijet 1200 dialed down to about 75% with the output tube going to the front of the input of my skimmer
everything is going great with these pellets! 11 days and my green hair algae i have been battling over a year is about gone!
I may have some recent before pix somepalce...
:thumbsup: Very nice video showing a nice tumble of the pellets!
jpatrician
Premium Member
Thanks Nate!
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