Bio pellets and Acropora

MattL22 · Jan 5, 2014

Ok Im hopefully getting a biopellet reactor I bought Monday I've tried carbon dosing a few times I always got STn and recession in my acros
But... I've seen guys with amazing results using these!

So for the sps guys running bio pellets what is the trick too it?

Should alk be below 8 like 7?

When should heavy feelings start right away after nutrients drop??

What bacteria do u use?
How often?
Thanks for any help

Greenstreet.1 · Jan 5, 2014

I started off with half the recommended dose I use TLF biop
I would say start with a slow tumble cause the fast you tumble the fast nitrates drop you don't want it to drop to fast. I have been using it since I started back up the tank my nitrates are always at zero. Take it slow I have a friend that just started and lost a few sps.

Vmacisback · Jan 5, 2014

Biopellets shouldn't be too tricky, I know there are the horror stories but that's usually due to changes happening too fast for your corals to keep up with. I currently run WM Ecobak pellets with success. Once you have them dialed in with a slow tumble an no clumping you really don't have to do much. At the beginning I dosed IMO a lot of MB7, now that the pellets are established i only dose it after a water change.

As for alk I would stay between the 7-8 mark like you said. As for feedings I wouldn't do "heavy" feedings maybe just more frequent, like 3 times a day. You can also dose amino acids but that's up to you. Some people experience unwanted algae growth with dosing AA.

hope it helps

MattL22 · Jan 5, 2014

Not sure if the reactor I bought u can change the flow

Greenstreet.1 · Jan 5, 2014

Put a valve on the feed line to it from the pump

gtbarsi · Jan 5, 2014

I have wanted to do bio pellets for some time, one thing that I decided is that I would not do it unless I had a re-circulating reactor that could independently manage the reactor internal and the flow through the reactor. Everything I understand about the process suggests that managing the flow through the reactor is very important, otherwise you are likely to over strip your tank. Reef Dynamics has a really nice one and they actually had the first re-circulating bio pellet specific reactor, but I just don't have the cash for it myself. I am preparing to try a DIY project to create something with a very similar overall function at a fraction of the cost. Picture a 1.5L wide mouth nalgene bottle modified with the necessary plumbing and pump...

kacrocorals581 · Jan 5, 2014

Low alk I keep mine 7.6

MattL22 · Jan 6, 2014

This is reactor I have coming

It's super reef octopus

Alabamareef · Jan 6, 2014

Click on the Photo to play the Video:

I've got the Reef Dynamics Bio Pellet Reactor. And yes you can control the flow internally and the output line, a must IMO. Also the output line needs to empty close or into the skimmer intake, again a must IMO. They sold me an adaptor that I was able to use with my sump, you can see in the video. I also use the bio pellets Reef Dynamics sells.

Diesel · Jan 6, 2014

MattL22 said:
This is reactor I have coming

It's super reef octopus

We have the same reactor in a grow out system and it does it's job very well.
System is up and running now two months and the po4 is around 0.04.
We have it set low as we do have only 4 yellow tale damsels in the system and a few turbo's.

MattL22 · Jan 6, 2014

It will be run in same chamber as skimmer and ill put the tube in same aera as skimmer in take

MattL22 · Jan 6, 2014

Just got it in the mail!!

MattL22 · Jan 7, 2014

It's up and running !!
I just tested my nitrates with a crappy test kit says its 0 there is no way I have algae everywhere
So well see how it goes
Also goona swap my Gfo this week

Diesel · Jan 7, 2014

MattL22 said:
It's up and running !!
I just tested my nitrates with a crappy test kit says its 0 there is no way I have algae everywhere
So well see how it goes
Also goona swap my Gfo this week

Take on the swap process slow.
Dial down the bio-reactor to about 25% and slowly turn it up to 50% over a two week period.
Mean while turn down your GFO reactor at the same time till almost 0.
Keep an close eye on PE and color change, especially SPS and Chalices.
Good luck and show us some results after awhile.

Ben

MattL22 · Jan 7, 2014

Thank you guys so far no difference noted only 1 day right now tank is full of hair alage I used some dead rock and rock from 3 different breakdowns on my 4 month old 225 so it cycled pretty hard I'm hoping after this out break tank will be ready

MattL22 · Jan 8, 2014

Probably unrelated but I seem to be getting micro bubbles from my skimmer ...? Pumped into display or it could be because I used coral snow yesterday?

gtbarsi · Jan 9, 2014

You may need to adjust your skimmer, the bio-pellets shed material that is probably is causing your skimmer to generate more bubbles in the reaction chamber.