Bio pellets Vs ATS

[islander84]

Who has ran both of these and what is the better option for removing excess nutrients? I have heard biopellets doesnt remove as much PO4 as it does NO3....


What are the pros and cons of the 2.

 

[bknapp]

I run both on my system. Good results so far.

There is a ratio of nitrates to phosphates that pellets remove, they also don't remove phosphates without nitrates being present in the system. There are more rules abs restrictions with pellets and you need to watch your dKH closely with them.

 

[islander84]

In what way do the pellets affect the dkh?

 

[.AcroKiller.]

I been running both for ever and I have great results. I'm running full amount of pellets and a l2 scrubber my nitrates stay undetectable and my phosphates are .03 personally I think if I take the scrubber off line my phosphates would be way higher. They both are limited to removing phosphates but I would suggest to start the pellets first and wait about a month or 2 to start the scrubber there for you make the scrubber rely on the excess phosphates. And you can actually run both by then self with success but on an sps tank with a lot of fish I would suggest both.

 

[bknapp]

In what way do the pellets affect the dkh?

There is a correlation between burnt tips on acros and a higher dKH (above 9) and the use of pellets. Pellets help create a ULNS and those types of set ups run better closer to NSW levels.

 

[islander84]

What kind of reactor? How much flow? How many biopellets do you think for like a 90 gal DT and a 50 gal sump

I been running both for ever and I have great results. I'm running full amount of pellets and a l2 scrubber my nitrates stay undetectable and my phosphates are .03 personally I think if I take the scrubber off line my phosphates would be way higher. They both are limited to removing phosphates but I would suggest to start the pellets first and wait about a month or 2 to start the scrubber there for you make the scrubber rely on the excess phosphates. And you can actually run both by then self with success but on an sps tank with a lot of fish I would suggest both.

 

[.AcroKiller.]

I use the reef octopus and I'm using 1000 ml of dr tim. Dr Tim's pearls are 3 ml per gallon I would get the br110 and a maxi jet 1200

 

[islander84]

Ok, I was thinking that it caused alk to swing or something.... so basically sps are more sensitive to higher alk when running biopellets mostly because of the ULNS

There is a correlation between burnt tips on acros and a higher dKH (above 9) and the use of pellets. Pellets help create a ULNS and those types of set ups run better closer to NSW levels.

 

[Dowtish]

Be sure to start with 1/4 the recommended amount and start it on a slow tumble. Let the bacteria colonize over 5-6 weeks and then slowly add more media depending on your bio load and parameters.

 

[islander84]

What is the common amount per gallon ratio? Do you run an ATS as well Chris or just the Biopellets?

 

[Dowtish]

What is the common amount per gallon ratio? Do you run an ATS as well Chris or just the Biopellets?

250ml per 50 gallons. All I run is pellets. 3 years now

 

[islander84]

Is that sufficient in itself to remove PO4 or do you use an alternative for exporting PO4

250ml per 50 gallons. All I run is pellets. 3 years now

 

[Dowtish]

Is that sufficient in itself to remove PO4 or do you use an alternative for exporting PO4

I personally have never had to use any other media to remove p04. I do use EcoBak from warner marine, and I feed a lot to keep the balanced ratio of n03 and p04 correct. I did have my p04 creep up one time and all I did was add more pellets to the reactor and went down from 0.26 to 0.03 in 5 days.

I will say that using an ATS in combo would definitely not hurt, and one day when I have the space cleared in my garage I will probably set one up.

 

[gmoney243]

Both are great. U can run each seperately or together. Ats is cheaper(if diy) but requires more maintenance. Pellets are less maintenance.

 

[NeveSSL]

I personally have never had to use any other media to remove p04. I do use EcoBak from warner marine, and I feed a lot to keep the balanced ratio of n03 and p04 correct. I did have my p04 creep up one time and all I did was add more pellets to the reactor and went down from 0.26 to 0.03 in 5 days.

I will say that using an ATS in combo would definitely not hurt, and one day when I have the space cleared in my garage I will probably set one up.

Is there a particular formula or guideline to feeding for balancing nitrates and phosphates, or do you just straight up feed a lot?

Brandon

 

[meintn]

I read a few places plus the link below that puts the ratio at 16:1 for nitrate to phosphate absorption. I feed heavy and my phosphates remain higher than I want so I will be running GFO as well as bio-pellets as soon as I get Chris's old 85 gallon tank up and running in the next week or so.

Redfield ratio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia