To start off I have a 150 cube lite bio load yellow tang two clowns wrasse hand full of coral ! I run two wp25 and reef octopus skimmer 2000 in sump bubble blaster pump and a mr1 reactor with about 600 ml of all in one bio pellets . Well I have a major problem with hair algea . I use to have a refugium but now I just have that space void . Would I have better luck with Gfo and something else ? What do everyone run in there tanks lookin for a provin combo or method these all in one pellets not doing the job. Seems like every since I went to all in one and no cheato this has been all down hill
Algea control and reactors
- Thread starter ncfishguy
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Put Macro algae in that void space, best to run with natrue
GFO Reactor, or dose a Lanthanum product, to chew up the phosphates that aren't being read by the API test kit.
GFO Reactor, or dose a Lanthanum product, to chew up the phosphates that aren't being read by the API test kit.
gtbarsi
Well-Known Member
+1
I recommend going with the GFO, since you run it non-stop and it can smoothly reduce and continuously maintain the low levels (provided you change your medial often enough). The Lanthanum products work relay well but it is a one shot thing and you have to do it manually in a filter sock so you can remove the precipitate.
How long have you been running your Bio pellets? When did the algae problem start?
jzaso
Active Member
Not a big fan of biopellets seem to cause more problems than they cure- I use a dsb for denitrification and phos reactor with a aluminum based media for po4 removal your getting 0 readings because the algea is assimlating the nutris they are in there! macros are a useful tool in this fight just stay away from the ones that go asexual and add to the problem your trying to solve IMO upgrade your test kits
Carbon is not needed in conjunction unless your running a dual reactor and the carbon could possibly catch any GFO that might grind up and get out. Carbon is like a safety net in case a chemical emergency happens. I never noticed much difference when not running it. I'm running it now because I noticed some flatworms on my glass and we all know that when they die they are toxic especially if they die in big numbers as with using flatworm exit.
gtbarsi
Well-Known Member
It would seem that your bio pellets are not doing the job that they should. That could be because they have failed to culture the correct bacteria, your water chemistry does not contain the proper proportions of phosphate and nitrate for the bacteria to consume it all, or it could be due to the output of the reactor. If the effluent from the reactor is not getting skimmed before the nutrients that are released by the reactor have a chance circulate into the DT it can create issues. If the output of the bio pellet reactor is not being directed to the intake of your skimmer you could change things so it is, and see how that effects things.
Alternately you could take it offline, and try the GFO & Macro Algae route.
Regardless of which route you choose to go you also need to do a couple of things
1. Do your best to manually remove as much of the algae from your DT as possible. In doing so you reduce the nutrients it can absorb and (or release as it dies) and you can gauge if you are having success by it's growth rate.
2. Anything that could act as a mechanical filter (filter socks, sponges, pads, etc...) should be replaced/cleaned ASAP, and should be replaced/cleaned every 3-7 days.
3. If you have any dry rock / rock rubble in your sump you should blast it clean with a water stream (power head or baster) and then clean out any sediment in your sump.
If you choose to run GFO and you are not already running carbon I recommend it. The reason for this is simple, anything the GFO could leach also passes through carbon and has a chance to be trapped before it gets back in to your system, not to mention carbon has a number of other really good benefits. You can run a dual reactor like the BRS dual, or run GFO and carbon mixed together. There are arguments for each way but I personally like the mixed method. If you choose to go the mixed method I recommend you use the BRS calculator to calculate the amount of GFO and carbon they recommend. From there cut the GFO value in 1/2 since you have to change out mixed media every 2 weeks, (The BRS GFO calculator factors for a month). Mix the two medias before putting them in a reactor and insure that they can not tumble.
tigerdragon
Valuable Member
Personally i would bring a fuge back on line look at an ats. I used to run pellets and socks once i put my ats online in my fuge i pulled my pellets and sock. In my fuge i have rock rubble, chaeto, and my ats. Never looked back my numbers are stable.
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I just started running some HC GFO from BRS in an Avast reactor. I will let you know how it goes! BLAH algae!
gtbarsi
Well-Known Member
+1 on the Avast reactor.
Once you get too big for a BRS single I think the Avast reactors are the way to go. If money & space were not a premium I would run one of the tall thin Avast reactors for GFO, and plumb the output from that to a shorter wider Avast reactor for carbon. The fact that you can work with them to customize your reactor / reactor kit is awesome!
