Carbon and GFO or Bio Pellets??

[AirAngel]

Im running .25 Phosphates and .0-.05 nitrates using API test kits. I know I need more accurate testing and plan on getting Hanna Checkers. Please tell me the pros and cons of each of these reactors.

 

[jduck]

Nitrates is usually the limiting factor in using biopellet and still need to use some sort of phosphate reducer be it gfo or something else.

Carbon/gfo will not reduce nitrates.

 

[michael brumit]

I am debating the same thing right now. Tagging along to see what works well for everybody.

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[mike007]

Carbon dosing has been working great for me.

 

[bknapp]

Carbon should be used in all setups on my opinion especially in mixed reefs to help combat coral warfare. I run carbon 24/7 on my setup along with ecoBAK and an algae scrubber to keep my numbers low.

 

[gmoney243]

I havent ran carbon for a long time just skimmer and algae scrubber

 

[Dowtish]

GFO is expensive and a royal pain to change out the media every 4 weeks. I dont like changing out the GAC, but my tank starts to stink a bit, and I do have a large toadstool that can put off some serious toxins if it wants. Bio pellets are great if you know what they are and how they actually work and dont expect things to happen overnight. I am very happy with bio pellets and my wallet is happier too.

 

[jmann124]

I just converted a cal reactor over to run Dr. Tim's NP Active Pearls. I went the vodka dosing route once, and it worked great dropping my trates. The only problem was that it dropped them so fast that my LPS started to shrivel. My candy cane hasn't made a full recovery yet and it's been over a month since I stopped dosing.

 

[michael brumit]

If you had to pick one or the other which one would you go with. I would guess both just for carbon benefits.

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[Tennsquire]

I run all three in Phosban reactors. The GFO and GAC are run in series, since neither needs much flow. The biopellets are in a separately fed reactor that works much better after modding it to take off the bottom plate (it's the You-tube video that uses teflon tape). I am watching to see what effect the GFO has on a clam I picked up at the swap, but so far, so good; the clam appears to be growing. I agree that you need something to get the last bit of PO4 after you get the nitrates, and I can't imagine running a reef w/out carbon as was stated, even if it's just to keep the water clear. Corals battle each other in ways that we both can and cannot see, and carbon helps with that.

 

[Reefer5060]

I just ordered some bio pellets from Dr T . I was in the same boat. I was running carbon / gfo and at one point switched to the seachem phos . I am curious to see the results.

 

[michael brumit]

Which one would you start with first?

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[Reefer5060]

I haven't started the bio pellets yet they should be here sometime early next week. I went back and forth debating on weather or not to try them. I hated cleaning out my brs reactor when it was time to change the media, with bio pellets I wouldn't really have to worry about them as much. I tried carbon dosing once and found it tiresome and with my schedule being nuts, it didn't work. Ill definitely keep track of my tank when i swap them out.