Bio pellet nitrate reactor - slime build up

[barnfrog]

Has anyone had this problem? I use a high flow pump and the pellets are always in motion but after a week or so there is this nasty slime build up that starts to clog all the plumbing from the reactor... If you have had this issue, please chime in and let me know if you've found any solutions. thanks!

 

[Rob.D]

I'm interested in an answer to this also. When I first set my reactor up I had to set the valve almost closed, just today I noticed the bio pellets were barely tumbling and had to fully open the ball valve to get things tumbling again.

 

[Bartmmackey]

How old is tank. What were you expecting vs what happened. Not being a tool...just trying to get my head around details. No offense.

 

[barnfrog]

no offense taken. Let me give you some background... I have 20 years in the hobby and 10 in the professional industry (I wholesale and set up trans-shippments for coral direct from Indo). I've professionally set up 3000 gal+ tanks and systems commercially for resturants and hotels. I also build custom filtration units for fish stores around the bay area, so I know my way around a reef tank . Here's a vid of my setup: [video=youtube;GJIXlzC3keo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIXlzC3keo[/video]. The vid is a bit old but the main set up is still there.

With that said, I'm asking this question because I seriously can't seem to find any info on it. I've asked the manufacturer of the bio pellets and they have no info on this behavior. Thus, I thought I'd ask on a few forums to see if anyone has run into the same issue.

I set up a 350 show tank 2 years ago and it's running fine as are my other 3 smaller show tanks. I added a fluidized bed reactor to the 350 with bio pellets just to try it out. It's been running for about 3 months now. To be honest, I had low nitrate levels already so I was just expecting the new filtration to maintain the 0 reading. It is doing that just fine. The only problem I have now is the reactor has keeps getting backed up with this bacterial residue which looks like tan slime. The readings are still fine in the tank and the direct readings for the water within the reactor. I just want to know what's going on with the slime build up. So if you have further info on that, please let me know.

Thanks

 

[cadmanof50s]

While searching the Internet for "Bio-Pellet Residue" I came across this older thread.

I ran Bio-Pellets in my tank for many months and for many months battled a residue (which starts as a slime and then hardens and encrusts) on the inside of all my plumbing and pumps.
I finally gave up the Bio-Pellets because I was loosing the battle. Near the end, it was so bad I had to replace all my return lines as the deposit of bio-pellet material was so thick...it actually started to impead my water flow.....and my return lines are 1" in diameter!
Ever since I stopped using Bio-Pellets, I have yet to even clean pumps. That was several months ago. With Bio-pellets in use , a pump could not go un-serviced for more than two weeks!

I would love to get the benefits of the bio-pellets back but can't afford the time for constant maintenance or the costs of replacing return lines.

I would really like to know why my system suffered so badly from Bio-Pellet residue and why so few others have seen this reaction.

 

[gdemos]

I've been running BIOPELLET (reef dynamics 500) for two years. Just recently noticing the slime. It hasn't seemed to impact plumbing lines other than the reactor bit it is nasty. I started out with the pellets that reefdynamics carried the. Switched to two lil fishes brand. These pellets are smaller and breakdown faster but seemed to get the results. I'm wondering if the slime is a factor of the type of pellets. I have heard good things about dr tims brand so may try those. I have always monitored the reactor for build up and this reactor certainly allows for rumble control. So slime did not seem to have anything to do with flow rates

 

[Damon]

I've run pellets for maybe 4 to 5 years(I think it has been that long total).. And the only time I had slime and weird discharge, was when I deviated from the dynamics pellets. As soon as I went back to the normal pellets, no more problems..

I use the bpr135 from reef dynamics..

 

[gdemos]

Where are you buying the pellets from? Send a link please. Jeff sent it to me at one point but misplaced it

 

[thenissantech]

I thought I was the only one with this issue. I too have had an ongoing issue with slime

 

[gdemos]

Just happened to me and just for the record we are talking slime from the reactor- not cyano in the tank. I do recall a conversation with Jeff at RD when I was correcting a flow issue " I've seen reactors come back to my shop that were loaded with slime -you need to clean your stuff' something like that anyway indicative that it happens and it may not matter what reactor you have it happens. But to rule things out I will try to find jeffs NOPO pellets.
Anyone get the slime while using jeffs original NOPO pellets?

 

[Damon]

Where are you buying the pellets from? Send a link please. Jeff sent it to me at one point but misplaced it

My local store actually still socks them (at least for the moment), but I will turn them on to Jeff new site if need be.. However, here's the link to purchase directly..

http://aquariumsource.com/products/bio-pellets

 

[Damon]

Just happened to me and just for the record we are talking slime from the reactor- not cyano in the tank. I do recall a conversation with Jeff at RD when I was correcting a flow issue " I've seen reactors come back to my shop that were loaded with slime -you need to clean your stuff' something like that anyway indicative that it happens and it may not matter what reactor you have it happens. But to rule things out I will try to find jeffs NOPO pellets.
Anyone get the slime while using jeffs original NOPO pellets?

Yes, you do need to clean your stuff from time to time. But.. I know on mine, it's only on the top of intake that I have to clean every now and then, and that's only because I'm honestly impatient with soaking pellets, and add floaties that get stuck.. With at least the Dynamics reactors, I remember speaking with(well, calling and asking a ton of questions) , when I first began using them, to not tumble them to hard.. He said it wasn't necessary, and all it did was created excess shedding.. He said, and his videos reflected back then, to tumble, only so the surface of the pellets move smoothly.



If your getting, for example, with my 135,uneven throw(one side throws more than the other), adjust the nozzle with a pipe wrench. It's much easier to get a nice, smooth flow with that nozzle properly adjusted.. Actually, it's almost impossible, at least in my reactor, if it's not. Every one in a blue moon, I have to dislodge a pellet if I see it not spinning smooth.. I have had to do this maybe 3 times over the years.. But that's about it to be honest with mine..

Just happened to me and just for the record we are talking slime from the reactor- not cyano in the tank. I do recall a conversation with Jeff at RD when I was correcting a flow issue " I've seen reactors come back to my shop that were loaded with slime -you need to clean your stuff' something like that anyway indicative that it happens and it may not matter what reactor you have it happens. But to rule things out I will try to find jeffs NOPO pellets.
Anyone get the slime while using jeffs original NOPO pellets?

 

[gdemos]

Going to try dr tims pellets for a change. I have no concern about the tumble or quality of reactor setup. And I've grown to really like and trust this reactor. Only thing I can guess is the issue of sludge build up is due to: recent clean out of my overflow (lots of sponge and detritus had settled in there) so that could have sparked a bio chain. Also recently put GFO back online (I've had it off for over a year but Po4 crept up to .1) so maybe those changes. The TLF Pellets are much smaller than the NOPO and seemed to breakdown considerably faster yet they also brought my no3&po4 down better than I experienced with NOPO.

 

[IKD]

I realize this is an old thread, but thought I'd add my experience. I have a 265 gallon reef with moderate fish stocking level. I have the same issue with mulm/sludge build-up in my pumps and pipes when using a biopellet reactor. I have a Reef Octopus biopellet reactor and have used both BRS pellets and Vertex pellets with the same results. It was jamming up my skimmer and return pumps every week or so until I moved the output to a filter sock. I need to change socks every two to three days though, so am about to switch to a vinegar dosing method instead. I would say my Nitrates and Phosphates have read zero (0) since using it for the past year though, so it was a tough decision but the maintenance is getting to be too much burden now.

 

[jsker]

I would suggest switching to a seeded filter media and GFO. Since I switched away from bio pellets and stared this method, I stopped dosing carbon.

 

[IKD]

Thanks jsker. Do you use any macro algae as well? I am worried about losing control of Nitrates with this transition.

 

[1guydude]

I want this reactor! Lol... he has it tumbling too slow imo... i wouldnt want that film. As they break down or shear as u call it in the video...they work. Why they break down.
D

 

[1guydude]

Yes i know this is 3 yrs old. Lol