Bio pellets shedding?

[TankCandy]

Just got home and did my quick walk around the tank and noticed the tank looked a little cloudy. When i took a look in the sump area I noticed small white pieces coming up from the media reactor. Just put new media in 2 days ago and rinsed them with RO before adding. Is this stuff harmful?
I am using kolar labs BIO PELLETS.

The only caution on the bottle says to soak for 24 hours to prevent floating.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I’ve never used biopellets but the growth looks bacterial to me

 

[TankCandy]

You were right Trigger.

Well i leaned something new today.

"The bacteria colonizes and creates a biofilm that coats the surface of the biopellets. As the biopellets tumble inside the reactor, the biopellets rub against each other and this biofilm sheds off, exits the reactor and is then exported from your tank via your protein skimmer. "

New surface area is then exposed for new bacteria to colonize and continue reducing nutrients. For this reason, biopellets must be used in conjunction with a good protein skimmer and you will want to direct the outlet of the biopellet reactor towards the inlet of your protein skimmer. Nitrate and phosphate are “locked” in this biofilm. If the biofilm is not removed by your protein skimmer, it will simply break back down and be released back into your tank. It is perfectly normal to produce more skimmate when using biopellets so be sure to maintain and clean your skimmer accordingly."
-blog.marinedepot.com


I am still not sure how i feel about this making its way back to my display.

 

[Karen00]

You were right Trigger.

Well i leaned something new today.

"The bacteria colonizes and creates a biofilm that coats the surface of the biopellets. As the biopellets tumble inside the reactor, the biopellets rub against each other and this biofilm sheds off, exits the reactor and is then exported from your tank via your protein skimmer. "

New surface area is then exposed for new bacteria to colonize and continue reducing nutrients. For this reason, biopellets must be used in conjunction with a good protein skimmer and you will want to direct the outlet of the biopellet reactor towards the inlet of your protein skimmer. Nitrate and phosphate are “locked” in this biofilm. If the biofilm is not removed by your protein skimmer, it will simply break back down and be released back into your tank. It is perfectly normal to produce more skimmate when using biopellets so be sure to maintain and clean your skimmer accordingly."
-blog.marinedepot.com


I am still not sure how i feel about this making its way back to my display.

This is a good post. I want to add a nitrate reactor but can't decide which type. The kind you have is self feeding but a good skimmer is needed as you discovered. The other type uses media like ceramic rings which don't break down but the reactor has to be fed to keep the bacteria alive. I don't think a skimmer is needed with this type. I believe the nitrates are exported as nitrogen gas. Just when I think I have decided on which one I want I read another post or article that has me thinking I should do the other system. LOL

 

[TankCandy]

This is a good post. I want to add a nitrate reactor but can't decide which type. The kind you have is self feeding but a good skimmer is needed as you discovered. The other type uses media like ceramic rings which don't break down but the reactor has to be fed to keep the bacteria alive. I don't think a skimmer is needed with this type. I believe the nitrates are exported as nitrogen gas. Just when I think I have decided on which one I want I read another post or article that has me thinking I should do the other system. LOL

Now I am looking into getting a new skimmer. Got a Bubble Magus curve 5 that is about 6-7 years old. I am sure technology has gotten much better. I just need to make sure the skimmers footprint stays small.