Bad batch of Bio pellets?

[1979fishgeek]

Hi

I changed the brand of Bio pellets I use to All-in-one, I used them years ago without issue but I believe this is a newer receipt with GFO added. Been using them about 6 weeks and having problems.

My filter socks and skimmers have needed cleaning every single day since I switched to them, they are filled with a rusty orange sludge. I can't work out why but it's the same colour as the pellets so must be from them? Are the pellets breaking up or is it bacteria? The reactor tumble is just enough to keep them moving but they just constantly creating mess. Been using Bio pellets over two years and never had this issue.

 

[CodyRVA]

Ever consider it's a low quality product overall?

 

[1979fishgeek]

Ever consider it's a low quality product overall?

Well I am not liking. lol

Was recommended to me, either something's not right with how I am using it, or maybe a bad batch or perhaps the recommendations were for the older product before the GFO was mixed in?

 

[CodyRVA]

they are filled with a rusty orange sludge.

This has GFO written all over it... May be the nature of the product. Have you read any reviews on these pellets? How long has this GFO/Pellet been on the market? Might be a new edition that has little use testing?

 

[1979fishgeek]

Some photos...

Socks after just 24 hours and main display with slight bacterial bloom.

 

[CodyRVA]

You should contact the company and ask them if that's to be expected. If it is, I would change back to the pellets you were using before. ;Yuck

 

[1979fishgeek]

This is interesting wish I found these reviews before I bought them. I am having the same issue, it is clogging even the inlets on my return pumps. Even after having to pass by Deltec APF 800, Bubble Magus NAC6 and a Bubble Magus curve 5. Trying to find a email for the company and see what they recommend.

The old version was brilliant, but this new one I just can't get on with.

 

[CodyRVA]

This is interesting wish I found these reviews before I bought them.

Live and learn

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

THe GFO in such a product must be released when the pellet polymer is eaten away. It has to end up somewhere.

 

[1979fishgeek]

THe GFO in such a product must be released when the pellet polymer is eaten away. It has to end up somewhere.

From the colour on/in everything it's that classic GFO rusty brown, like you say it has to go somewhere and it's appears to have gone everywhere! Stains clothing like crazy too.

Going back to Crestaquatics Bio pellets and Rowaphos, works out cheaper and then have the option of removing the GFO if needed.

 

[Hans-Werner]

The cloudiness is possibly not a bacterial bloom but tiny ferric oxide hydroxide particles. Is there any bacterial slime on the windows or rocks?

 

[meiersreefs]

They have the 2 different types the light brown (premium All in one) ones like you are now and the darker brown ones (All in one). I made the same mistake and tried the lighter brown ones and the same thing happened to me. I pulled them all out and cleaned everything up and then switched back to the darker brown ones. Still all in one bio pellets but the GFO doesn't come off and coat everything.

 

[1979fishgeek]

The cloudiness is possibly not a bacterial bloom but tiny ferric oxide hydroxide particles. Is there any bacterial slime on the windows or rocks?

No bacterial coating I can see, but their is a fine dusting of what looks the same as what the skimmers and filter socks are pulling out. Like diatom algae but wrong colour and texture and def more GFO coloured. So you might be right!

 

[1979fishgeek]

They have the 2 different types the light brown (premium All in one) ones like you are now and the darker brown ones (All in one). I made the same mistake and tried the lighter brown ones and the same thing happened to me. I pulled them all out and cleaned everything up and then switched back to the darker brown ones. Still all in one bio pellets but the GFO doesn't come off and coat everything.

I must admit it's put me off using this product again, I thought I bought 2 packets of premium all in one, but one is more yellow coloured and the other orange brown....that later I think is the issue.
Remember when I first used two years ago it was yellow and I tried another version about a year ago which was like rabbit droppings. But neither caused a issue like these orangey brown pellets. They clearly have a few versions on the market and it's confusing me.

 

[meiersreefs]

I must admit it's put me off using this product again, I thought I bought 2 packets of premium all in one, but one is more yellow coloured and the other orange brown....that later I think is the issue.
Remember when I first used two years ago it was yellow and I tried another version about a year ago which was like rabbit droppings. But neither caused a issue like these orangey brown pellets. They clearly have a few versions on the market and it's confusing me.

Ya man there is the premium and just the All in one. Like I said the premium ones did the same thing to me so I went back to the normal type (Darker brown Like Rabbit Dropping) and no issues. I will never use the Premium ones again. Look at BRS and Marine depot they sell the different types and you can even see the different colours in there pics

 

[meiersreefs]

I must admit it's put me off using this product again, I thought I bought 2 packets of premium all in one, but one is more yellow coloured and the other orange brown....that later I think is the issue.
Remember when I first used two years ago it was yellow and I tried another version about a year ago which was like rabbit droppings. But neither caused a issue like these orangey brown pellets. They clearly have a few versions on the market and it's confusing me.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/all-in-one-n-p-reducing-biopellets.html
https://www.marinedepot.com/NP_Biop...ontrol-NP_Biopellets-XB67262-FIFMBOBC-vi.html

Here is the links to the 2 different kinds. I use the first link (BRS) and the second link (marine Depot) are the bad ones

 

[1979fishgeek]

Wish we had BRS in the UK, I follow them on YouTube what a amazing company!

Photo of my skimmers after just 8 hours...

The outlet of the biopellet Reactors feeds straight to the inlet of the Deltec APF800, then has to pass by the Bubble Magus assault course. You can see how much is still getting skimmed out and it's not the usual colour of my skimmate. Crazy!

 

[meiersreefs]

Mine did the same and also coated all my rock and everything and Refuge was coated as well, it was a lot of cleaning . You should still be able to buy just the All in one bio pellets where you order from just make sure you don't the premium type. It says premium right on the package, stay away from them.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Really crazy, but with all this going on I just noticed my ancient Clarkii just laid a batch of eggs right in the middle of the tank! They are over 10 years old and still breed!

 

[meiersreefs]

Thats sweet My clarkes lay there eggs all the time as well. They start out pinkish then once they are silver they will hatch and then a week or so later there will be more eggs there. I haven't kept any as I just leave them in the tank. They will wave the fins over the eggs all the time as well and they will hatch at night as well.