Best biopellet brand

Lonelyreef · Oct 26, 2013

I don't have much experience with bio pellets so I'm wondering whats the best brand of biopellet out there from fellow reefers. I'm leaning towards ecobak pellets but I'm unsure and would love some help on this one.

Lonelyreef · Oct 26, 2013

Anyone out there.

KSzegi · Oct 27, 2013

I use ecobak and have been very happy with them ..... but have never run any other kind as a comparison either.

jdl513 · Oct 27, 2013

I started out with the Brightwell Aquatics Katalyst product and liked it.
Tumbles easily and found it to be effective.

Trying out BRS pellets which are far cheaper.
These are a bit heavier and don't tumble as readily, but with some adjustment to the flow this is not a problem.

Not sure which one I will go with long term.
May try the Ecobak next if I can get it from my regular sources to see how it compares.

bknapp · Oct 27, 2013

I've been running ecoBAK for over a year and they've been working well.

Dowtish · Oct 27, 2013

Ecobak from Warner Marine or Dr. Tims Pearls are the only pellets I would use.

Most pellets on the market are derived from a solvent based extraction but the mentioned above pellets are made from a water based extraction. Solvents and saltwater dont mix.

redfishbluefish · Oct 27, 2013

I run BRS. I can not swear to the truth of this, but I was told that the current BRS pellets are Ecobak.

Tab28 · Oct 27, 2013

I started with dr tim's and when it needed to be recharged i bought brs which as mentioned are much cheaper. My nitrates and phosphates are still at zero months later. So i found no real difference.

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Lonelyreef · Oct 27, 2013

Awesome I got dr.tims I was told to start off with a third of what my system needs and slowly add I will see how it goes

ingtar_shinowa · Oct 27, 2013

Ecobak or bust

greg 45 · Oct 28, 2013

I have recently purchased a reactor and pellets from Reef Dynamics . They are only running for 5 weeks now . Nitrates haven't dropped yet but my phosphates have. The big difference for me was at start up I didn't loose any anemones or livestock as I did with other brands. I think Jeff did his homework on his reactor and choice of pellets.

neuwave · Oct 28, 2013

Seems like a lot of people are using the ecobak. Any other brands people using? I'm interested myself, to see what others like. Though I'm probably gonna use the tropic Marin NP-BACTO pellets at first to test them out. Supposedly they are made from seaweed extract, a natural form of carbon. I'll post when I get the pellets. Fingers crossed

eg8r210 · Oct 28, 2013

I use the TLF NPX pellets. I used BRS and did not have much luck, however I will caveat that with the fact that I did not soak them either. In the past I soaked my pellets for a few hours or overnight and had much better success. In the end, I just went back to TLF pellets. I soak them over night and inoculate with MB7 during the soak (though I don't know if this is really doing anything beneficial).

Damon · Oct 28, 2013

greg 45 said:
I have recently purchased a reactor and pellets from Reef Dynamics . They are only running for 5 weeks now . Nitrates haven't dropped yet but my phosphates have. The big difference for me was at start up I didn't loose any anemones or livestock as I did with other brands. I think Jeff did his homework on his reactor and choice of pellets.

Have one also. It's a great setup. I have been running mine since January I didn't care for the results I had obtained previously with other brands either.

I just added an additional 3.2 oz to the reactor a week and a half ago, and they are already active and beginning to pull.

In the beginning, I didn't run it wide open, but half or so. That's the beautiful thing about those reactors.

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greg 45 · Oct 28, 2013

Damon how big is your system ? I have over 1000 gallon system all anemones . How long before you noticed a drop in nitrates, at this time my filter socks are getting filthy. I also just ordered a skimmer from Reef Dynamics are you running there skimmer also . Maybe I will slow down the reactor at this time it's wide open .

Damon · Oct 28, 2013

greg 45 said:
Damon how big is your system ? I have over 1000 gallon system all anemones . How long before you noticed a drop in nitrates, at this time my filter socks are getting filthy. I also just ordered a skimmer from Reef Dynamics are you running there skimmer also . Maybe I will slow down the reactor at this time it's wide open .

Wow, you've got much larger than me bud! My little tank is I only 110 display and 55 sump. It took about 6 weeks for it to fully kick in initially and begin pulling strong. But yes, I ran it partially closed because my levels weren't insanely high.

And yes, I run one of his skimmers also. They workvery welltogether. I'm using both the bpr135 reactor and ins135 skimmer. I have the nice little attachement on it going directly to the skimmer. I also skim wet because of that bio film and nutrient that "can" be put out, especially at first start(light tea color where you have to squint to see through it).

I don't tumble hard or fast either. I put off a ton more film tumbling hard and it, too me and my system didn't care for it. The top of the pellets just giggle and move slowly. I think, from my calculations I'm running a good 12oz of pellets now also if that helps any on your model.

I just can't get over that you have a pretty big system. Lol, you should really look at the recirculation skimmers! I don't have the eheim version(E version), but am getting ready to upgrade the pump to it.

But yes, I think his skimmer makes all the difference in the world. But that's just my opinion. .

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