Bio pellets Questions

[Diamond1]

1. Has anyone started a tank with a bio pellet reactor in place? Not adding one after the tank is established but actually running it from start of the cycle. If so what have you noticed as far as how the tank matured and developed. Is it a good idea to do this?

2. What's the difference between running bio pellets and a GFO reactor?

3. Will a Bio pellet reactor strip the tank of needed nutrients for LPS and Softies?

Thanks, I'm trying to get a better picture of how to set up my new system and any advice with the Bio pellets vs GFO reactor would be appreciated.

 

[Bigfish93]

Tagging along. I would like to know as well.

 

[JohnC]

I personally would not do it. Bio-pellets are a form of carbon dosing. The carbon on the pellets allows bacteria that need carbon, nitrates and phosphates to reproduce. GFO absorbs phosphates, it does not facilitate bacterial growth like bio-pellets. A bio-pellet reactor will remove nutrients, the amount depends on the balance of nitrates and phosphates in the system and the amount of pellets you use.

 

[JohnC]

Actually I should reword that, the pellets are the carbon, not the pellets on the carbon lol

 

[xbrentx]

I run biopellets, I added them about 6 months into my tank's life. Within 6-8 weeks it brought the nitrates and phosphates to 0. Yes, it strips the nutrients, but my fish and coral are happy. I can overfeed and keep fat fish. The skimmer removes the side effect by product of the bio pellets.

 

[JohnC]

I should also add that due to the bio-pellets needing nitrates and phosphates to operate, and nitrates not being available till the cycle has completed, I would think there would be zero net effect on the initial cycle as there would not be the three needed components available for them to work

 

[Diamond1]

So set the tank up, let it mature and once the bio load in the tank is established decide if I need bio pellets or not?
BTW I'm planning a small (38 gallon) SPS dominated tank with a some zoas and a couple LPS.
Is there a good point to keep the nitrates and phos at to keep everybody in the tank happy?