Warner Marine Now Has A Pellet Product

[mos90]

the skimmer just needed some adjustments. it is skimming but its very light colored, doesnt have much oder.

 

[Safedad]

supplementing bacteria

supplementing bacteria

When running bio pellets do you add Microbacter 7 or Zeo at the same rate as the directions? Or can you add it less frequently if N/P stay low? Thanks

 

[mos90]

i add 1 cap per week of mb7 to my 125g. after the initial dose for the first 2 weeks.

 

[Safedad]

Thanks, how long have you been following this dosage?

 

[mos90]

the tank has only been running for 6 weeks. so that would be 4 weeks total.

im using about 1/2 the recommended dose per week.

 

[CW from the OC]

When running bio pellets do you add Microbacter 7 or Zeo at the same rate as the directions? Or can you add it less frequently if N/P stay low? Thanks

I'm not a bio-scientist, but here is my take on adding bacteria like Zeo or MB7.

How do you know that the strain in the bottle will utilize the carbon source you are dosing? You don't. And if it is not utilizing the carbon source, it will not be very effective at reducing nitrate and phosphate, because it will be carbon limited. Additionally, it will compete (though not very effectively), with whatever bacteria that is in your tank that DOES utilize the carbon sourcing you are dosing. So adding bacteria will cost a lot, and might actually slow down the process.

This is another case of the best thing to do is go slow and be patient. And it saves you a lot of money, those bacteria products are *expensive*.

 

[b_s_c1]

I have been keeping up with this thread off and on since I started using the pellets roughly a year ago. When I started I never really had a nitrate or phosphate problem that I could measure but was always fighting some sort of algae on a small scale which the pellets did help clear up. About four months ago a set up a new tank and took the reactor from the old one and hooked it up to the new one. I believe they are helping as the only thing I have had a problem with is lyngbya, and currently still battleing it. From the start I bought 1L of pellets and placed half in a nextreef pellet reactor. A month later I added the other half. One year later it still seems that I have pretty close to the same amount of pellets. They have never been clumpy and stay at a slow tumble. I would think they would change as the bacteria eat away. This makes me think that they do not have a good bacteria colony on them but when I shut it down for a couple of days I can see a direct effect on my skimmer. Any suggestions on why this might be?

 

[inigomontoya]

Skimmed a lot of this and think I have a plan for my problem, but wanted to run it by the experienced group. I have a BRS dual reactor 130g tank plus 30g or so in the sump. I put 500 ml in the BRS (split between both reactors so it could tumble) on Sunday. Wednesday night when I came home I noticed my coral were upset. Mille and pocillopora and stylo which have always had great PE were all rectracted. Same with my pagoda cup and tyree toadstool. The tank was also fairly cloudy. From the sound of it this is a bacteria bloom, just surprisingly quick.

Tonight I intend to take one of the two reactors and switch out the pellets for carbon (should be first one right- because if second it might clean out the effluent from the pellets in first?), then add an airstone. LMK what you think about the series reactor-it is what I have so would like to utilize it. Think I can do the carbon for a week and then return the other pellets. Twofold effect of making the intro more gradual and ensuring any extra nastiness is cleaned out by the carbon. I did this to reduce nitrates a bit to help with my sps color, but they have always been real healthy- don't want to make things worse.

 

[Buganddoug]

The bacteria bloom should clear up in about five days. I would not take the pellets off line. You could make a bigger bacteria bloom when you put them back on line. Because the bacteria on the pellets will die off.

 

[inigomontoya]

Thanks, I had used the stock sponges originally, which is why it was too cramped to put the 500ml in just one of the reactors. I went by Hobby lobby and bought the mesh and was able to get all the pellets in one reactor. So I am running some carbon in the first reactor and all the pellets in the second. Not the most efficient use of carbon (with all that flow) but better than nothing.
Anyone have thoughts on switching their positions, the bio pellets being first (and therefore getting most flow) and then carbon in a series dual reactor? It seems the carbon would clean up some of the bacteria from the bio pellets- thereby defeating the purpose. Not sure if that is off on my logic (and it is definitely better to have pellets first from a flow issue- carbon liking it slower).

 

[mos90]

i think i would be ok with the dual reactor with the pellets first. make sure u use the brs pellet cartridge.

 

[snaza]

Hey Guys,

Been running only 400ml of pellets since i set up the new tank about 6 months now. total water volume is about 180G and flow through the pellets is very slow.

Twice now my water has gone a bit milky and find the skimmer is overflowing.

Anyone got any ideas why? (I assume its a bacteria bloom). Nothing has change each time.

cheers

Aaron

 

[bertoni]

A bacterial bloom is reasonably likely. Some animal might be spawning, too, I guess. I probably wouldn't worry too much just yet.

 

[snaza]

Thanks. Here is a pic.

 

[Buganddoug]

Now that is what I call Skimming!!!

 

[cunningham]

^^^^^^^
Thats Wild!

 

[TheFishMan65]

Dish soap is a bad idea in a fish tank . I have had mine overflow, but nothing like that.

 

[b_s_c1]

I could use a little help with these pellets. I have been running them for nearly a year now and never had to add any more. It still appears that I have the same amount as I started with. Looking in the reactor the pellets look like new with no noticeable bacteria growth on them. There does seem to be bacteria in the reactor just not on the pellets. For most of the year I kept the flow just enough to gently roll the pellets. What could be the problem. These pellets should deteriate as the bacteria eat them correct. Does it mean that I do not have the proper bacteria string in my system that utilizes the pellets.

 

[aculross]

What are your nitrate and phosphate readings? I wouldn't worry about how the pellets deteriate if your levels are good. I've been running mine for about 8 months now - while the level of pellats have dropped, it's not very much but my nitrates have gone from like 70ppm to rock solid zero so I know they are working !

 

[b_s_c1]

No problem with nitrates but my phosphates have started to climb currently at .13. I do believe it is because I have increased feeding but the last result made me wonder if the pellets are doing there job.