Bio-Pellet Survey...

[Brando457]

Thermo do you ever sleep lol

Sweet so I'll run carbon and pellets from the start of the 75 Im setting up.

Is there a preference on a specific reactor? (price doesn't matter much)

 

[Brando457]

Oh and I see Np media? Seems to be the better one?

 

[downbeach]

Would you guys running bio pellets to recommend running gfo and carbon also ?

From my research, I believe that if you try and run them together, that one process would be counterproductive to the other, and neither would work well. I think you need to commit to one or the other. So, if you're going to try the boi-pellets, take both your Chaeto and GFO off line, give the bio-pellets a chance to do their thing, and see where your nitrates and PO4 are once the bio-pellets have kicked in. It has been recommended that you implement the process gradually, using only half the suggested amount of bio-pellets for your system to start.

I was admiring the Vertex and Reef Octopus reactors for this purpose, but decided to just re-purpose one of my BRS reactors during my "trial" period. I did buy the bio-pellet cartridge instead of doing the mod on the existing cartridge though and upgraded the pump to a MJ1200. I have been able to tie, NP, Vertex and BRS together as being the recommended PHA type of bio-pellet, there may be others, but I couldn't find the evidence.

 

[Hawkeye]

I was admiring the Vertex and Reef Octopus reactors for this purpose, but decided to just re-purpose one of my BRS reactors during my "trial" period. I did buy the bio-pellet cartridge instead of doing the mod on the existing cartridge though and upgraded the pump to a MJ1200. I have been able to tie, NP, Vertex and BRS together as being the recommended PHA type of bio-pellet, there may be others, but I couldn't find the evidence.

jim - i ordered one of those reactors on the GB. If it works well - i'll report back.

 

[howze01]

If you are starting a tank, start with pellets. If you have an established tank that is running GFO, they recommend to transition from one to the other over the course of a few weeks by slowly removing the GFO and allowing the bacteria on the pellets to get established.

I was told that when starting a tank you shouldn't start with pellets because you won't have the necessary nutrients to keep them alive. Kind of made sense when I thought about it. But you're saying it's no problem to start out with the pellets?

 

[Fish Brain]

I should add a disclaimer to that post. This is just my theory, and the way I'm doing it, so I'll let you know how it works out.

The bacteria on the pellets should establish themselves along with the rest of the tank as you progress through your cycle. Nitrates will build and supply the pellets with needed nutrients to grow and maintain the colony.

I'll let you know how this theory pans out.

 

[howze01]

But....but....I'm doing it at the same time.....

 

[downbeach]

I was told that when starting a tank you shouldn't start with pellets because you won't have the necessary nutrients to keep them alive. Kind of made sense when I thought about it. But you're saying it's no problem to start out with the pellets?

Actually I would think it would be better to start with a new set up and allow everything to cycle together. But, I think you would need a continuing source of nutrients to maintain them. If you have an established tank there will be a transition between the two methods, since it will take some time for the pellets to colonize. So, if you have a small nutrient problem in an established tank you should probably add the pellets incrementally. Meaning I probably wouldn't totally remove my Chaeto and GFO, just start to reduce it and allow the pellets to "build".

 

[downbeach]

jim - i ordered one of those reactors on the GB. If it works well - i'll report back.

That would be great, keep us posted, nothing beats experience.

 

[Fish Brain]

But....but....I'm doing it at the same time.....

What, are you worried about killing your rocks? LoL

 

[howze01]

At first it will just be the rocks and sand but I'm going to have to start moving stuff over eventually. Going to seed the tank with some sand from mine and CJ's tank along with the new stuff. Hopefully that will get the cycle going!

 

[falconut]

I don't see any reason why you can't start a tank with pellets. There's nothing to kill, they are just a food source. As the levels in your tank build up, they will get seeded and begin to be consumed.

 

[Brando457]

Makes sense since most of us add gfo and carbon to handle an issue after it occurs. Having the pellets seeded during the cycle helps lessen chance of the issues occurring. Hmm now to figure out which reactor to get and how the heck I'm going to transfer everything over :doh!