I have two separate reactors, one I still have the GAC with a MJ400, the other was GFO with a MJ600. I changed the GFO to pellets and changed to a MJ 1200. Are you thinking of running the GAC and pellets in series with one pump?
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Starting Bio-Pellets
- Thread starter downbeach
- Start date
I have two separate reactors, one I still have the GAC with a MJ400, the other was GFO with a MJ600. I changed the GFO to pellets and changed to a MJ 1200. Are you thinking of running the GAC and pellets in series with one pump?
Run the bio pellets last in the series or the "pellet snot" could clog your second reactor. Also, try to have the return into the sump as close to the skimmer intake as possible.
I have been reading a lot on RC about peoples experience with BP. A good many people have not had good experience with them. It has gotten me a bit nervous about starting them.
I am relatively sure that many people that are having issues are because they are starting out with too much media and possibly too high NO3 and PO4 in the tanks. They also may not be directing the outflow to their skimmer. Or possibly they don't have a good enough skimmer to use BP.
Has anyone here had long term success with this media (besides Daniel and falconut)?
Can you describe your tank, amount of media started out with, amount of media you ended up using to maintain your system, your reactor/skimmer set up and types? (This pertains especially to those with long term positive results (Daniel and falconut).
Has anyone that has just started using them not had side effects. Side effects being too much snot or cloudy water as well as cyano outbreak. I would like to hear how you have them set up as well.
I am relatively sure that many people that are having issues are because they are starting out with too much media and possibly too high NO3 and PO4 in the tanks. They also may not be directing the outflow to their skimmer. Or possibly they don't have a good enough skimmer to use BP.
Has anyone here had long term success with this media (besides Daniel and falconut)?
Can you describe your tank, amount of media started out with, amount of media you ended up using to maintain your system, your reactor/skimmer set up and types? (This pertains especially to those with long term positive results (Daniel and falconut).
Has anyone that has just started using them not had side effects. Side effects being too much snot or cloudy water as well as cyano outbreak. I would like to hear how you have them set up as well.
falconut
NJRC Member
Personally I would run them separately. During my research prior to use, I was finding a lot of recommendations to running them independantly. Since you have a mj1200 already, all you would need to buy is a valve and maybe some hose.
All I can tell you is to start slow Do not put them in all at once. I would start with a third at a time. Give it about two weeks before you add the next third and two more for the last third. If for any reason you get cloudy water that is because you have a lot of Bio waste in water and it will clear up in about a week. Also if the pellets get snot that is also caused by high bacteria load in the system.
Never piggy back with an other reactor. You can foul out the pellets or vice versa.
I do not like some of the reactors that are out for the pellets like the JNS. JNS spins them very fast and that will not allow bacteria to stay on the pellets. So the slower the better.
Never piggy back with an other reactor. You can foul out the pellets or vice versa.
I do not like some of the reactors that are out for the pellets like the JNS. JNS spins them very fast and that will not allow bacteria to stay on the pellets. So the slower the better.
No it dose not matter.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
I just joined this party and got a Next Reef xl Reactor and some bio pellets from TLF. I'm hoping this will help with this crazy hair algea problem I can't get rid of. I spent the whole day working on my tanks hopefully things get better with this stuff.
I know that you're supposed to keep it in the dark, but I've had mine running for close to 8 weeks now and it has been hanging on my sump in the light, and the BRS reactor has a clear housing. So, I don't know how important it really is. All my parameters are good, and PO4, NO 2/3, and NH3/4 are still undetectable.
Yea I've heard to keep away from light just wasn't sure about dark. Figured I'd give it a try. I have a BRS reactor running carbon with the refillable cartridge. I need to get another cartridge to make it that much easier to change out. I'm not sure what the bio pellet reactor is but I use to run 1000ml of pellets with room to spare. I got it at absolutely fish.
I have been using brs bio pellets in a next reef reactor on my 200g setup for 4 months now and everything is great. When i set it up i started with 1 cup of pellets and my nitrates were over 10. after about 2 weeks i added the second cup of pellets for a total of 2 which was recommended for my size setup from brs. Forgot about it for 2 months and tested my nitrates. they were .25!!!. Never had any cloudy water or adverse effects on my fish or corals.
I would never setup another tank again without them.
Thought about using pellets, but I run my skimmer off of a manifold. I see everyone suggests that the output of the reactor should be near the intake of the skimmer. Obviously running a manifold, only a small portion will enter the skimmer and the rest will be distributed through the tanks. Probably not a good scenario, right?
Mnat, I personally wouldn't run both medias inline. You could use a "tee" in the middle of the 2 reactors, use the MJ1200 and dial each reactor in seperately. I would venture to say that the force needed to tumble the pellets would grind the carbon or other media to powder and release into the system.
Mnat, I personally wouldn't run both medias inline. You could use a "tee" in the middle of the 2 reactors, use the MJ1200 and dial each reactor in seperately. I would venture to say that the force needed to tumble the pellets would grind the carbon or other media to powder and release into the system.
The reactor should be near the intake of the skimmer. Not true I have mine in my 2nd sump because my first sump has my 7" filter sock and my Big Skimmer in it. So I just put my reactor in the 2nd sump and I have been running that way for all most 2 years now.
Almost nothing. I was already running a reactor with gfo in it before i started the bio pellets.