N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[reefkeeper2]

I agree, the bioload of the system should determine how many pellets you need. How is anyone to judge that though? Since my tank is 427 gal, that is probably the number I should use instead of the total water volume of the system.

[teesquare]

I should have more specific -
I am thinking that the amount of tested Phosphate and/or Nitrate should be the critical piece of evidence which helps determine the correct volume of the the NP Pellets.

Make sense to you?

T

[reefkeeper2]

I see what you mean, but I don't entirely agree. A 50gal reef with a nitrate level of 20ppm should not need as many pellets as a 200gal reef with a nitrate level of 20ppm. Even though the test results are the same, the 200gal reef has a much higher bioload with it's many more corals and fish putting out much more waste. It needs a larger bacterial population to metabolize that waste.
Right now in my tank the phosphates and nitrates are near undetectable. This is because I dose 26ml of vodka daily, and use GFO and lanthanum to help with the phosphates. If I stop dosing, I will need to have a bacterial population growing on the pellets large enough to do the same job. I would have to continue with the phosphate control measures regardless.

[teesquare]

Once again I have clearly demonstrated that my fingers don't always do what my brain tells them to do!

As part of the formula for quanity or volume of NP Pellets - why not take the PO4 and Nitrate readings, and based on the volume of water to remove that amount of PO4 and N from....develop a formula which is a more salient approach than just an arbitrary number of "so much per gallon".
*IF* the manufacturer or the distributors are watching - PLEASE consider this approach. It makes your product a better value if we can utilize it without waste, and likewise get all of the benefit from it by "sizing" it properly to the demand of each system according to its needs.
T

[reefkeeper2]

Thats sounds like a good approach.

[teesquare]

I am glad my brain cramp was worth it

Certainly took me enough efforts to verbalize what was "rattling around in the attic!"

T

[itachi]

I just put my bio pellets to use after holding them for a couple weeks .. .Here's a video of my setup. Running 2L of pellets in a nextreef MR1 XL.

On a 240G display + 350G total volume

[magnoliarichj]

i have had mine in for about 5 weeks... every thing is doing great. i do notice my skimmer is filled every 3-4 days. there is a clear slime on all my equipment and i have to clean my glass every other day.

[minireef30]

How much will I need for a total of 40 gallons, lightly stocked tank?

[tntneon]

Originally Posted by minireef30

How much will I need for a total of 40 gallons, lightly stocked tank?

-you can start out with about 300 gr of BP and over time you could increase it safely to 500 gr BP.

greetingzz tntneon

[tntneon]

Originally Posted by magnoliarichj

i have had mine in for about 5 weeks... every thing is doing great. i do notice my skimmer is filled every 3-4 days. there is a clear slime on all my equipment and i have to clean my glass every other day.

Do you mean cleaning glass of display , or sleaning sump glass ?

I now can wait 3 to 4 days to clean my display glass.
i notice a white film is coating my BP overflow canister (bacteria) , else i don`t have any bacterial films or coatings.

greetingzz tntneon

[catman78]

Just started with 500 gr in my 120.

For those using Phosban reactor I have a question.
I'm using a 550 reactor with a maxi-jet 1200 @ running at around 80% capacity with ball valve adjustment.

Are the pellets supposed to be tumbling at the bottom of the reactor?

Mine are pushed to the top.

[catman78]

Tumbling now. Seems like they were clumped together @ first.
Perhaps I should have rinsed them first.

Will report back with findings. Started backing off Vodka, personally... along with tank.

[7hogwarts]

Other than expense. Since the bacteria colonizes and the pellets are consumed at different rates. Would it really matter if you put too much of the pellets in?

[tmz]

It might. They provide a carbon source which likely will permeate the tank. Too much may create too many bacteria.

[kentrob11]

Question....I recently built the sump below and have 2 active flow canisters built in for use with carbon. 100% of the water goes through them and the flow will be about 500gph. Could I simply put these biopellets in one of the canisters instead of carbon in both? Would the flow through be enough? They are made of 4" diameter acrylic tube and are about 6" tall.

[tntneon]

Originally Posted by kentrob11

Question....I recently built the sump below and have 2 active flow canisters built in for use with carbon. 100% of the water goes through them and the flow will be about 500gph. Could I simply put these biopellets in one of the canisters instead of carbon in both? Would the flow through be enough? They are made of 4" diameter acrylic tube and are about 6" tall.

If the flow enters from the bottom i would place a mesh on top that the BP won`t flow over the edge of the canister or try with a lower flow and build the flow up untill the pellets are tumbling around w/o leaving the canister.
500 G/h will be enough , it also depends on how much pellets your gonna use.

Sweet sump you have there !!


greetingzz tntneon

[kentrob11]

Thanks! Actually there will be screen on the bottom and top of both canisters so that shouldn't be a problem. I just didn't have it installed in the picture. That video above is neat!

[danrobberg]

anyone run these in a brs jumbo reactor?

[7hogwarts]

Originally Posted by teesquare

Once again I have clearly demonstrated that my fingers don't always do what my brain tells them to do!

As part of the formula for quanity or volume of NP Pellets - why not take the PO4 and Nitrate readings, and based on the volume of water to remove that amount of PO4 and N from....develop a formula which is a more salient approach than just an arbitrary number of "so much per gallon".
*IF* the manufacturer or the distributors are watching - PLEASE consider this approach. It makes your product a better value if we can utilize it without waste, and likewise get all of the benefit from it by "sizing" it properly to the demand of each system according to its needs.
T

I like this idea!!! It would seem there should be a calculator developed for this. It would also aid in when and how much should be added to existing systems using the pellets.

[teesquare]

Thanks for the recognition! I only have one good idea about every six months -so please- somebody grab a camera and let's record this!

Seriously - thanks!
T

[danrobberg]

can i run the pellets in a sulfur denitrator instead of the sulfur. would they do better in that type of reactor that recirculates the water instead of the water just passing through very rapidly. normaly the water would have a very small amount of time in contact with the pellets. in a sulfur denitrator type reactor the water would have a much longer contact time with the pellets. does this makes sense?

[NaClH2Opgh]

Originally Posted by 7hogwarts

I like this idea!!! It would seem there should be a calculator developed for this. It would also aid in when and how much should be added to existing systems using the pellets.

I agree that would be a great idea but I honestly don't think even they have any idea how much N and P X amount of pellets will remove from a given volume of water. You could have 5 systems with the same water volume and same N and P readings but you also have to consider amount of live rock, sand, # of fish, feeding (amount and frequency), skimmer and also water changes. So each system would have a different amount.

[teesquare]

Granted - there will be variations in the "active load" ( food consumers - fish,aneomes and corals that must be fed) and the normal "consumption rate" of N and P...
But as those are already inadequate in a given system considering the use of theses pellets - or there is a shortfall on the part of the hobbyist with over-feeding, lack of proper maintenance etc. I guess what I am syaing is regardless of the cause - It would help both the maker of the product and the end user to have a "range" of amount of pellets per "X" parts per million per "x" numer of gallons.

Really, shouldn't we look at products like NP pellets, and GFO in a similar fashion - as far as guaging the right amount needed on each system?
T

[NaClH2Opgh]

Originally Posted by teesquare

Granted - there will be variations in the "active load" ( food consumers - fish,aneomes and corals that must be fed) and the normal "consumption rate" of N and P...
But as those are already inadequate in a given system considering the use of theses pellets - or there is a shortfall on the part of the hobbyist with over-feeding, lack of proper maintenance etc. I guess what I am syaing is regardless of the cause - It would help both the maker of the product and the end user to have a "range" of amount of pellets per "X" parts per million per "x" numer of gallons.

Really, shouldn't we look at products like NP pellets, and GFO in a similar fashion - as far as guaging the right amount needed on each system?
T

I am not disagreeing with you simply saying there is no formula. You should just start low, increase, test, adjust....repeat for your specific system. Remember the old watts per gallon rule for lighting; simply too many other factors involved to have a formula that actually works. When I used GFO in the past I didn't use what they said because of $. I started with a small amount then tested and added more until my P came down. Especially something like these pellets are too new.

"But as those are already inadequate in a given system considering the use of theses pellets" -- I agree 100% but still doesn't change the fact that these factors make each system different and affect the amount of pellets you should use. Those factors that are inadequate in my system might be sufficient in yours even though we had the same water volume.

This is a hobby that involves tweeking and guessing. Again, I agree it would be nice, just not possible IMO.