How to verify(rectify) if BioPellets are working?

sunshinereefer · Oct 26, 2012

I introduced Biopellets in my 150g mixed reef almost 10-12 weeks back and I did not touch the reactor since it was introduced. I am still getting some high readings on nitrate.
I would call myself a medium feeder (2 times/day - flake, pellets, frozen food variety).
Bio load is little on the heavier side as I have 5 adult tangs, a trigger and some misc fish.
Initially my phosphate reading were very high in the range (1.80), so I ran phosphate reactor. Then I took it down when the reading were in the range of 0.20. The phosphate climbed back to 1.50 in 2 weeks - So I introduced the phosphate reactor back in. My nitrate levels are in the range of 160 based on 2 test kits. Haven't seen much difference ..have done 2 big water changes in the last 2 months since the bio pellets were introduced..

Any ideas what is happening and how it can be rectified..

revsgirl · Oct 27, 2012

:bump2:

dedubya · Oct 27, 2012

I also have had my bio pellets running for about 3 months and nitrates have not moved they stay at 25 and i still do a 30% wc every weekend. I have the Reef Octo reactor with the cone in the bottom to improve tumble, and DR. Tim's pellets. About 900 ml of pellets on a 200 gal system with a mag 5 pumping it, with plenty of tumble. Not sure why they have not dropped the nitrates from 25, I have contemplated taking the reactor offline. I keep waiting jic it's like the vodka dosing as I know sometimes it can take up to 6 months for the vodka dosing to truley be effective. Hopefully some others will chime in here with some insight to the issue.

Reefing Madness · Oct 28, 2012

If those readings didn't move and went up in 2 weeks, your pellets are exhausted. Replenish. Ever thought of Carbon Dosing? Possibly using Vodka or Vinegar? I have been dosing for over a year, keeps those Nitrates at 0. Also, if you plan to dose, let me know, I can set up your dosing right off the bat, or close to it, and you don't have to wait 6 months for it to take effect.

sunshinereefer · Oct 30, 2012

i did replenish the pellets yesterday and will monitor it for the next 2 weeks. I tried vinegar dosing for a short period but did not see any noticeable difference. Let me know what your recipe is for carbon dosing?

kuyatwo · Oct 30, 2012

are you dosing any bacteria? you need to dose a bacteria to seed the pellets. i suggest zeovit zeobak. i used to dose mb7 and switched to zeobak with better results.

Dowtish · Oct 30, 2012

What kind of pellets are you using? And what kind of reactor?

Can you post a video of the tumbling action?

Typed from my phone, because I have nothing better to do.

Reefnjunkie · Oct 30, 2012

Not bashing Reefing Madness but more curious, how can one visually tell if a pellet is "exhausted" I have never heard of this I was under the impression they slowly "disolve" as the organics are consumed. I'm pretty sure of this from all I have seen which is why I ask.

A couple of questions;
What brand of pellets are you using
What type of reactor
What amount of pellets are recommended for the brand your using for "x" amount of water volume
Do you have a skimmer-those numbers just seem so high-I have to figure you are running a fish only system
Have you had your water tested by another person or LFS, those numbers are just insanely high IMO

I have been running AquaMaxx pellets on my tank, total water volume close to 550 gallons (tank is 400). I started with 1/2 liter and added another 1/2 liter about 6-7 weeks later. Their directions say 0.5 to 1 liter of pellets for every 125 gallons of water so I wanted to start SLOW.

My nitrates were around 25 and my PO4 was .17, I feed heavily, a tablespoon (or more) of DIY food daily plus pellets or flake and have about 30+ fish, Triggers, Tangs, Wrasses, I would consider a heavy medium bio load.

I do 50 gallon water changes at about the 6 week mark, maybe 8.

I dont think the pellets are exhuasted but like I said what RM posted was news to me and I am not an authority on bio pellets, just what I have read/seen tells me different.

I would lean more towards the brand of pellets or also I have found if the flow is to fast it will take longer for the NO3 to come down, but instead the PO4 drops.

I also run 2 GFO reactors in addition to the XL Bio Pellet Reactor and with levels like you have would keep yours online.

Dowtish · Oct 30, 2012

Bio pellets do not exhaust. You are correct. They are simply a substrate and food source for the bacteria to live and feed on.

Typed from my phone, because I have nothing better to do.

sunshinereefer · Nov 1, 2012

kuyatwo said:
are you dosing any bacteria? you need to dose a bacteria to seed the pellets. i suggest zeovit zeobak. i used to dose mb7 and switched to zeobak with better results.

No I am not dosing any bacteria..was not aware that I had too..

sunshinereefer · Nov 1, 2012

Dowtish said:
What kind of pellets are you using? And what kind of reactor?

Can you post a video of the tumbling action?

Typed from my phone, because I have nothing better to do.

I am using biopellets from Bulk Reef Supply in a Phosban 150 reactor. Will post a short video of the tumbling action soon..but based on my understanding the pellets are tumbling at a good rate, no clumps forming at all. The quantity of the pellets did decrease from what I had started with over the period of 10 weeks.

sunshinereefer · Nov 1, 2012

Reefnjunkie said:
Not bashing Reefing Madness but more curious, how can one visually tell if a pellet is "exhausted" I have never heard of this I was under the impression they slowly "disolve" as the organics are consumed. I'm pretty sure of this from all I have seen which is why I ask.

A couple of questions;
What brand of pellets are you using
What type of reactor
What amount of pellets are recommended for the brand your using for "x" amount of water volume
Do you have a skimmer-those numbers just seem so high-I have to figure you are running a fish only system
Have you had your water tested by another person or LFS, those numbers are just insanely high IMO

I have been running AquaMaxx pellets on my tank, total water volume close to 550 gallons (tank is 400). I started with 1/2 liter and added another 1/2 liter about 6-7 weeks later. Their directions say 0.5 to 1 liter of pellets for every 125 gallons of water so I wanted to start SLOW.

My nitrates were around 25 and my PO4 was .17, I feed heavily, a tablespoon (or more) of DIY food daily plus pellets or flake and have about 30+ fish, Triggers, Tangs, Wrasses, I would consider a heavy medium bio load.

I do 50 gallon water changes at about the 6 week mark, maybe 8.

I dont think the pellets are exhuasted but like I said what RM posted was news to me and I am not an authority on bio pellets, just what I have read/seen tells me different.

I would lean more towards the brand of pellets or also I have found if the flow is to fast it will take longer for the NO3 to come down, but instead the PO4 drops.

I also run 2 GFO reactors in addition to the XL Bio Pellet Reactor and with levels like you have would keep yours online.

BRS brand bio pellets in a Phosban 150 reactor. Using the amount of quantity recommended on the BRS website. Recently also ordered the 2 little fishes brand bio pellets to see if they work better but haven't tried them yet.
Skimmer is a reef octopus skimmer rated for 200g and it does skim a very well based on my opinion
I have had the water tested by LFS and I am using the red Sea test kits, API test kits and Hanna Phosphate Checker.
I started slow as well adding half the recommended quantity. Just replenished with the recommended quantity as they had said not to touch the reactor for the first 8 weeks.
The 150g is a mixed reef with thriving SPS, gonis, etc etc Have 5 large tangs and few medium fish total would be close to 20 fish.
I do a 40g water change each month on the first weekend.
I mostly feed pellets twice a day with flakes sometimes. Twice a week feed a good meal of mysis, krill, cyclopeeze etc etc.

It might be as you said- the pellets are tumbling at a faster rate..I have tried to adjust it a few times..so that I don't get clumps but the pellets are not really pushed around.

beaslbob · Nov 1, 2012

IMHO the best thing is live macro algae or an ats. I had two tangs in my old 55g and just partitioned the back 3" with egg crate and added 2 2 tube utility fixtures behind the tank pointing forward. With fast growing macros like grape caulerpa anc chaeto between the back glass and egg crate, nitrates dropped 100ppm to 0 in three weeks. Phosphates dropped to unmeasureable levels a little while later.

Not to mention the tangs really liked grazing on the macros that poked through the egg crate.

my .02

Reefnjunkie · Nov 1, 2012

It may be nothing at all, but one common variable (there are more than one but...) I see with people having issues with their bio pellets are those people using a phosban reactor for bio pellets. Granted there are plenty of people that have not had issues but in converse I cant recall reading a thread where someone was having issues with their pellets when using a reactor designed for pellets-will all things being equal to what you said i.e. they followed the directions as you, skimmer, volume added etc.

I can honestly say I have the flow fairly low thru my reactor and they swirl through the reactor like a cyclone. My phosban reactors have issues tumbling my GFO-LOL its not uncommon to have to turn/tilt the reactor just to get the media inside all stirred up.

That may not be the issue but from everything else you posted (anwsers to my questions) I dont see anything at all that stands out as something done incorrectly or a possible issue.

IMO its the reactor-again, I understand plenty of people may be using without issues for them buts its the only thing I see as a 'weak link'

Good luck