Excess phosphates and nutrients

Griff · Jun 24, 2016

Following along

Breakthecycle2 · Jun 24, 2016

Bumgrundle said:
I agree. If you can, follow just what Mikey and The directions state. In my case, my wife has cut me off for a few months...can't blame her, i'm embarrassed as to how much i've spent in just 2 months. So to that end, I went ahead and used a full size reactor, and a pump I already owned. But I do add....it's working! I showed tween 10-15ppm Nitrate again tonight, this is the lowest i've had since startup of my reef. I would never tell someone how do do their tank, but I will always share my experiences, good or bad.

I have 1 cup, and just under 1/2 gate valve opened to get this tumble. Any less, and the Beads at the bottom don't move. Cheers

What size pump are you using? Brand? Also, are you saying I have too many pellets? Each jar does 150 gallons. So, right now, I have a jar and half for my 250 gallon system.

MikeyAl · Jun 24, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
What size pump are you using? Brand? Also, are you saying I have too many pellets? Each jar does 150 gallons. So, right now, I have a jar and half for my 250 gallon system.

I use an MJ900 for my BRS reactor. BRS recommends an MJ1200.

Breakthecycle2 · Jun 24, 2016

MikeyAl said:
I use an MJ900 for my BRS reactor. BRS recommends an MJ1200.

Thank you.

domination2580 · Jun 24, 2016

Thanks! Phosban is in, more light green on the rock for corraline amd less gha, it came off really easy to when i did my water change

Bumgrundle · Jun 24, 2016

Just an update, I'm at 10ppm Nitrates! Never been this low. However it's a bitter sweet accomplishment as one of my Goniopora frags has bleached all the way down to 1 very small polyp =(
The other is retracted very small, but no signs of bleaching. I've read where a bleached Gonio will sometimes come back from the dead!? Ooooohhhhh ZOMBIE CORAL lol So i'll leave it in. It will be interesting if this comes back as it's just straight up white. Gonios like dirty water, so i'm not surprised. Tho i'm at 10ppm /shrug.

Breakthecycle2 said:
What size pump are you using? Brand? Also, are you saying I have too many pellets? Each jar does 150 gallons. So, right now, I have a jar and half for my 250 gallon system.

Using a Marineland 1500 gph. as far as the amount of pellets? Just follow the directions that Dr. Tim's provides. "Directions: NP-Active Pearls should be used at a rate of 3 ml of Pearls gallon of aquaria water (1/4 cup NP-Active Pearls per 20 gallons of water). However, when first starting with Pearls, use 1 ml per gallon and add more Pearls over the first month. NP-Active Pearls will be consumed over time and will need to be replenished. Do not wait until the reactor is empty of Pearls before adding more."
So looks as tho you have a little bit too much in. Cheers Mate

Breakthecycle2 · Jun 24, 2016

Bumgrundle said:
Using a Marineland 1500 gph. as far as the amount of pellets? Just follow the directions that Dr. Tim's provides. So looks as tho you have a little bit too much in. Cheers Mate

So according the directions, I am using the correct amount. A jar and half for 250 gallons. With the 1500gph, do you have cranked all the way?

Bumgrundle · Jun 24, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
So according the directions, I am using the correct amount. A jar and half for 250 gallons. With the 1500gph, do you have cranked all the way?

Directions: NP-Active Pearls should be used at a rate of 3 ml of Pearls gallon of aquaria water (1/4 cup NP-Active Pearls per 20 gallons of water). However, when first starting with Pearls, use 1 ml per gallon and add more Pearls over the first month. NP-Active Pearls will be consumed over time and will need to be replenished. Do not wait until the reactor is empty of Pearls before adding more.

And yes, i do have it cranked...BUT your setup is gonna differ. Both of us are using full sized reactors, Mikey said they recommend a smaller reactor, which makes good sense but I can't afford a new purchase right now so I used what I have. It's more important to try to get the Pearls lightly moving throughout the column.
A side note, as my pump is up all the way, i've noticed a small layer, about 4 pearls high is not moving much so each day I just bump the reactor to displace them so they don't end up clumping. GL mate

MikeyAl · Jun 24, 2016

Bumgrundle said:
Directions: NP-Active Pearls should be used at a rate of 3 ml of Pearls gallon of aquaria water (1/4 cup NP-Active Pearls per 20 gallons of water). However, when first starting with Pearls, use 1 ml per gallon and add more Pearls over the first month. NP-Active Pearls will be consumed over time and will need to be replenished. Do not wait until the reactor is empty of Pearls before adding more.

And yes, i do have it cranked...BUT your setup is gonna differ. Both of us are using full sized reactors, Mikey said they recommend a smaller reactor, which makes good sense but I can't afford a new purchase right now so I used what I have. It's more important to try to get the Pearls lightly moving throughout the column.
A side note, as my pump is up all the way, i've noticed a small layer, about 4 pearls high is not moving much so each day I just bump the reactor to displace them so they don't end up clumping. GL mate

Yeah. I never really paid attention to the directions much. I started off with about 1/4 cup and got a nice tumble. After 2 weeks or so, I added a bit more. I never really went to full amount as my water parameters were stable. I always just watched for a good steady tumble. Eventually I ran out of pearls, and switched to GFO and haven't looked back.

Bumgrundle · Jun 24, 2016

MikeyAl said:
Yeah. I never really paid attention to the directions much. I started off with about 1/4 cup and got a nice tumble. After 2 weeks or so, I added a bit more. I never really went to full amount as my water parameters were stable. I always just watched for a good steady tumble. Eventually I ran out of pearls, and switched to GFO and haven't looked back.

Yeah it's weird, I started off with GFO and carbon but could never get below 20+ on my nitrates. I tried doing everything, min feeding, creating a fuge, slow skim, fast skim, 40% waterchanges per week the list goes on. This is the only thing that has worked. I'm not sure if I should continue running carbon in tandem with the pearls tho once I get a Phos checker i'll decide then.

domination2580 · Jun 24, 2016

Bumgrundle said:
Yeah it's weird, I started off with GFO and carbon but could never get below 20+ on my nitrates. I tried doing everything, min feeding, creating a fuge, slow skim, fast skim, 40% waterchanges per week the list goes on. This is the only thing that has worked. I'm not sure if I should continue running carbon in tandem with the pearls tho once I get a Phos checker i'll decide then.

The link to the product doesmt come up correct....Shasta the link for these beads?

MikeyAl · Jun 24, 2016

Bumgrundle said:
Yeah it's weird, I started off with GFO and carbon but could never get below 20+ on my nitrates. I tried doing everything, min feeding, creating a fuge, slow skim, fast skim, 40% waterchanges per week the list goes on. This is the only thing that has worked. I'm not sure if I should continue running carbon in tandem with the pearls tho once I get a Phos checker i'll decide then.

No need to run carbon.
If you aren't showing any signs of algae growth, i wouldn't concern myself too much. Stick with what is working.

Bumgrundle · Jun 24, 2016

domination2580 said:
The link to the product doesmt come up correct....Shasta the link for these beads?

D'OH! thanx for the catch. Dr. Tims NP - Active pearls

Bumgrundle · Jun 24, 2016

MikeyAl said:
No need to run carbon.
If you aren't showing any signs of algae growth, i wouldn't concern myself too much. Stick with what is working.

Agreed, I have some algae growth, mostly very short and lime green on LR that is lit. BUT, Coralline algae is starting to take that over. In the past week beautiful spots of it everywhere! So I'm gonna wait until I get a Phos test kit and keep or remove the Carbon depending on what my readings are.