Chemiclean/Bio-Pellets

poolkeeper1 · Dec 30, 2011

Anyone have experiance in treating with Chemiclean (Red Slime remover) While running Eco-Bak Pellets, And were there any problems in doing so and if so what were your issues??
Thanks in advance
Bill:tongue:

Rockhead · Dec 30, 2011

The only thing that it affects in my tank is the skimmer, it go's nuts , so I recomend turning it off.

fastrd400 · Dec 30, 2011

Can't really turn the skimmer off while running bio pellets. If you are going to treat with Chemi-Clean, turn off both the pellet reactor, and the skimmer. You can always contact Jon at Warner Marine as well to see what his thoughts are.

Rockhead · Dec 30, 2011

Yes I see your point , but if the bio pellets sit they turn toxic and you could possibly loss your tank, personally I would try to cut back on feeding and try some gfo until it clears up, check your phosphates and nitrates thats the only thing keeping it living.

poolkeeper1 · Jan 6, 2012

OK, Here are some results as I went ahead and dosed the tank with the Chemiclean and did turn off the skimmer. I also dailed the Pellet reactor way back to the point they were barely tumbling and had no adverse side effects other than killing all the Cyano Bacteria and the tank looks like there is no water in it again it's so crystal clear like it used to be!
I know this is not very scientific but it workrd without losing any thing but what i needed gone and it all worked out fine.
Bill

poolkeeper1 · Jan 6, 2012

Rockhead said:
Yes I see your point , but if the bio pellets sit they turn toxic and you could possibly loss your tank, personally I would try to cut back on feeding and try some gfo until it clears up, check your phosphates and nitrates thats the only thing keeping it living.

I run an ULNS and my Po4 was at 7 PPB and still had this slime taking over the tank! I had recently added Eco-Bak to the original amount that had been eaten over the past year and that's when the Cyano started and got way out of control. Not sure they are related but this was the only change to the system, And I run a Vertex Alpha 170 skimmer on a 105 gal tank with 65gal sump.
You were the one who understood my concerns and I'm glad the worst did not happen. Thanks for your thoughts.
Bill

Nuocmam · Jan 6, 2012

Did the treatment cause your sps to brown or lose color?

poolkeeper1 · Jan 6, 2012

Nuocmam said:
Did the treatment cause your sps to brown or lose color?

Not as of the moment everything looks like it did before. No visable side effects that i am aware of.
Bill

Nuocmam · Jan 7, 2012

poolkeeper1 said:
Not as of the moment everything looks like it did before. No visable side effects that i am aware of.
Bill

Can you please let us know if it does? I thank you for your input.

Rockhead · Jan 7, 2012

I'm glad to here everything worked out, A while back the same thing happened to me with the Eco-Bak and I took it off line all together and went with the all original method witch is carbon and GFO in a BRS reactor and within a couple of months my tank is looking better then ever, not say anything bad about Bio Pellets I just didn't have the right touch.

96p993 · Feb 1, 2012

Just wondering if anyone has an update on this...Im thinking of doing the same and was looking for as much info as I can. I have been running pellets for about 3 months, the tank water is crystal clear but Im getting quite a bit of algae on the rocks and the sand. My thoughts are either using chemiclean or biodigest. My hope with the biodigest would be to overun the tank with good bacteria and starve the algae

robert · Feb 1, 2012

I've used chemi-clean in the past and it works well. Others have had some problems see: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/middle-tennessee-reef-club/67801-chemiclean-disaster.html

I don't turn off my skimmer, I just remove the collection cup and let it foam away. If you do turn off you skimmer, add an airstone to the tank or sump. I believe most issues are caused by o2 levels dropping off during treatment.

xcorallusx · Feb 2, 2012

I have the BRS biopellets and used chemi clean to remove a few small patches that developed when I reloaded my biopellets. If you soak the biopellets overnight in tank water, it doesnt produce the cyano. I tried this on my second refill. I have a phosban 150 filled with biopellets and have a 500 gallon system. I cannot grow macro algae with the biopellets, I do have mangroves but they have not taken off.

96p993 · Feb 3, 2012

I do soak my pellets but the only reason I have read for soaking is so they are waterlogged before putting into action...no floating. What quantity of pellets do you have in your reactor? According to what the BRS instructions say you should be running 10 cups or 2365ml worth of pellets...While Im a believer in what pellets can do I also believe they have their limitations, I just wonder if you are running enough to see the real effects