WVReefJunkie
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Any certain brand out there you would recommend for a 300 gallon mixed reef system? Thanks
Biopellet Recommendation?
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redfishbluefish
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I know John Warner of Warner Marine will argue that EcoBak is the best, but there are only two polymers that I'm aware of that are used to make biopellets. I'm also not aware of bacteria having a very discernible palate for what they eat. I use BRS's pellets.....no complaints.
Bottom line, I haven't seen anything that differentiates one brand from another, other than cost.
Bottom line, I haven't seen anything that differentiates one brand from another, other than cost.
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WVReefJunkie
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Iam sorry, I was asking for reactor recommendations. Thanks for the info on the pellets,I need that too.
aquaman30k
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I'm glad you clarified. I was going to recommend EcoBak pellets but for reactors, I'm enjoying the Avast spyglass reactors currently. Easy to change media or refill in the case of biopellets. I would also look into a full recirculating reactor. Many brands out there.
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WVReefJunkie
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Do they make a external version?
aquaman30k
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Not in the spyglass. There are several external full recirculating reactors out there. Avast does make a retrofit kit for their regular reactors that would do the trick but you may also look at the Reef Octopus Biochurn or Skimz reactors.
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GoVols
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Ask and you shall receive...
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...let_Reactors-AquaMaxx-UJ5113-FIFRISBP-vi.html
italquam
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Aqua man as far as the spyglass is concerned , do you have it placed near the skimmer since it is just a flow over reactor. I am thinking of using one and curious how you have it set up......any pictures??
aquaman30k
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I'll grab a few pictures this weekend but yes it's about 6-8" from the skimmer intake. It's too early to say how well it's doing as it's only been running for around a month. Once the pellets have a good bacterial film and I get heavier on the feeding I'll have a better idea of how it's doing. I also added all in one pellets to the mix in a test to see if they would drop my phosphate levels to .10 ppm or less.
cracker
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I have the reef Octopus reactor . It works very well. In fact it worked too well & stripped the water and bleached my corals. May I suggest using 1/2 of the recommended amount of pellets and see what happens.
italquam
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How do u like the all in one pellets, I know a lot of people say they make a mess. I currently use BRS pellets and seem fine. I am interested in trying either the all in one or the ecobak plus pellets
aquaman30k
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That's been my experience as well. Lots of gfo fines that turned the tank cloudy and has made the skimmate yellowish orange. They are mixed with regular EcoBak but I may switch them out for the EcoBak plus now that you brought that to my attention. Lol
aquaman30k
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The cloudiness has died down btw but the display is not clear as of 2 weeks later.
aquaman30k
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I'm confident the cloudiness is coming from the NP all in one pellets. Planning to switch them for the EcoBak plus. The spyglass is only 2" from the skimmer intake.
aquaman30k
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aquaman30k
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It's the medium, there is a small behind the skimmer with carbon in it.
aquaman30k
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I painted all the ball valves and brackets to match the sumps black and white theme. I think it turned out pretty good.
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+1 on full manifold picture.
To anyone out there:
I hope you have long term success with the biopellets. They just scare me personally over the long haul. Too many stories where things turn bad very quickly including watching my (lfs) main display. To me it's like buying a salt mix with a carbon source. If I feel the need to carbon dose, I'd rather used a more controlled source like NOPOX.
I'm a Rowaphas GFO junking and it controls my Phos.
I'm old school and still water change 18% (15 gallon) every week.
Bought the Aquamaxx Biomaxx XL reactor knowing from the beginning I would Mod it into a Purigen reactor.
Purigen complements my skimmer by absorbing organics in the water column before hitting the nitrogen cycle to lower nitrates. Purigen is not an nitrate absorber.
Between the GFO, Water changes and the Purigen reactor. My phos stays around .04ppm and nitrates a 3-4ppm. That's close enough for myself not to tinker with.
There's many ways to skin a rabbit. Once you lock into a way that works for you then stay with it
To anyone out there:
I hope you have long term success with the biopellets. They just scare me personally over the long haul. Too many stories where things turn bad very quickly including watching my (lfs) main display. To me it's like buying a salt mix with a carbon source. If I feel the need to carbon dose, I'd rather used a more controlled source like NOPOX.
I'm a Rowaphas GFO junking and it controls my Phos.
I'm old school and still water change 18% (15 gallon) every week.
Bought the Aquamaxx Biomaxx XL reactor knowing from the beginning I would Mod it into a Purigen reactor.
Purigen complements my skimmer by absorbing organics in the water column before hitting the nitrogen cycle to lower nitrates. Purigen is not an nitrate absorber.
Between the GFO, Water changes and the Purigen reactor. My phos stays around .04ppm and nitrates a 3-4ppm. That's close enough for myself not to tinker with.
There's many ways to skin a rabbit. Once you lock into a way that works for you then stay with it
