Equipment Suggestions: Bio pellet Reactor

[DoubleDoor]

Hey all,

We have a 72 gallon bowfront with a 30 gallon sump. We have read and seen a lot about bio pellets and reactors. Is there a brand of both that people recommend or have had good luck with? Also we're concerned about the amount of extra skimming that is recomended when adding a bio pellet reactor we currently have a ReefOctopus HOB Skimmer 100 running in the sump, will this be adequate to keep up with the reactor?

Thank you for your time,


DoubleDoor

 

[RCS82]

People love their bio pellets and that is great if you do but I always would choose vinegar dosing over bio pellets. Instead of setting up a reactor with fittings/hoses and another pump, why not just add a small dose of cheap vinegar to your tank on a consistent basis.
Sorry but just my 2 cents lol.

 

[DoubleDoor]

No thats helpful. Do you have any suggestions on how much to dose?

 

[RCS82]

There are charts that are easy to google. Basically you start out with a small dose daily that you slowly ramp up every few days then every week until you see a drop in nitrates. That is where you can drop the dose, half is recommended I think, and use that as a maintenance dose. That's the jist of it. The small doses to start I would do once daily, bolus dose. If you work your way to some larger doses maybe splitting it to twice a day or using a dosing pump would be nice then. Yes dosing pumps are more equipment that I said was a negative part to bio pellets but you might already have a dosing unit for 2 part maybe.