Need info and opinoins on Bio pellets

[solar]

What do they do for you guys that are running them. I plan to have cheato in a little fuge. Whats the pros and cons. And whats a good cheaper reactor, and what pellets do you guys recommend?

 

[p woodard]

What do you know about them I ask this to prove a point and the rock will be waiting on you to pick up when you are ready for it

 

[Dowtish]

Here is all you need to know about a lot of MTRC member's opinions on bio-pellets

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/middle-tennessee-reef-club/71048-offical-eco-bak-thread.html

 

[Railcar79]

I am running biopellets in a JNS alpha 2 recator on a 72 bowfront. If you run too many it can be problematic. I am running 1/4 cup of pellets, and dropped my phosphate to 0.09 over 2 months. I love the pellets. If you chose to run them I highly recomend dosing some brightwell Microbacter 7 to help with the cyano.

 

[solar]

What do you know about them I ask this to prove a point and the rock will be waiting on you to pick up when you are ready for it

I know nothing about them. I just know alot of members are using them and there tanks are awesome. Why I asked. I also know there are about 200 different kind of reactors and more so for pellets.

 

[NeveSSL]

Keep it simple and order a Synergy Reef reactor. Good prices and you can pick one up at the Critter if you want. There are certainly others out there, too.

Definitely have a read through the thread that Chris linked. Lots of info in there.

Brandon

 

[McAllyn]

Critter had the tiny reactor for what I thought was a really good price. Should be a fine size for your 40.

Mac

 

[Rob.D]

Keep it simple and order a Synergy Reef reactor. Good prices and you can pick one up at the Critter if you want. There are certainly others out there, too.

Definitely have a read through the thread that Chris linked. Lots of info in there.

Brandon

I agree with Brandon 100%.....Synergy Reactor and read the thread....

I've recently done a bit of reading on pellets, it appears that no pellets are created from the same bio material; I would use just about any of the brand pellets, Vertex, Two LIttle Fishies, BRS, ecoBack......I'm not sure if anyone has mixed pellet brands (kind of like mixing salt brands)? It would be interesting to see what would come from mixing pellets.

 

[Railcar79]

I use NBX, and BRS mixed

 

[solar]

Well i read all 19 pages. Doesn't really say alot just that you need high nitrates for it to work. It doesn't say what is a good reactor. What is recommended dosage of pellets per water volume. And is there a cheaper than 99$ reactor that works well? I had that exact same reactor i ended up trading it to rod d at the frag swap. If i should set it up in cycling stage or if i shouldn't. If i should run it with a refugium ect. Guess Ill just research it on my own. Don't see the point in joining a club when everytime i ask a question it gets 300 views and one answer. And the answer is usually something along the lines of google it or look through here insert some amount of pages. Brandon and bill and rob d I appreciate the feedback! Keith I will come over thursday if that's good for you. I thought being a part of a club was all about helping one another along, trading corals or even getting corals for a discounted price not paying market value when i can get same corals from non members for cheaper even with shipping. And making new friends who enjoy this hobby as much as I do. This club seems to be a group of a few selective people who bunch together and then there are outcasts. Maybe im wrong in seeing what I have seen for the last year. Maybe im the problem expecting to much. rant over.

 

[NeveSSL]

FWIW, the pellets per water volume are going to be different for each brand. Check the instructions for the brand you're considering.

The current Synergy Reactors have only been on the market about 2 or 3 months, so you haven't already had one, if that helps. $99 is hard to beat and the quality is phenomenal... if you go to the Critter, compare it to the Bashea reactors that are more expensive and are not as well built. Also check the prices of other reactors on the market. Most are $150 to $200. I've heard you can modify Two Little Fishies Phosban reactors to work with bio pellets, so that may be an option with a little elbow grease behind it.

For your question, there are lots of variables, Phil. It would take an hour to thoroughly answer your questions, and most of us don't have that type of time. To be blunt, its difficult to take the time to write all of that out when the question has been answered a couple of times in other places. You may not know it, but you actually did answer your questions by reading through that thread. High nitrates/feeding a lot makes them work and they take out phosphates much slower than nitrates. That's pretty much it.

I'm certainly not trying to argue with you, FWIW, just trying to provide some perspective.

Brandon

 

[Dowtish]

Well i read all 19 pages. Doesn't really say alot just that you need high nitrates for it to work. It doesn't say what is a good reactor. What is recommended dosage of pellets per water volume. And is there a cheaper than 99$ reactor that works well? I had that exact same reactor i ended up trading it to rod d at the frag swap. If i should set it up in cycling stage or if i shouldn't. If i should run it with a refugium ect. Guess Ill just research it on my own. Don't see the point in joining a club when everytime i ask a question it gets 300 views and one answer. And the answer is usually something along the lines of google it or look through here insert some amount of pages. Brandon and bill and rob d I appreciate the feedback! Keith I will come over thursday if that's good for you. I thought being a part of a club was all about helping one another along, trading corals or even getting corals for a discounted price not paying market value when i can get same corals from non members for cheaper even with shipping. And making new friends who enjoy this hobby as much as I do. This club seems to be a group of a few selective people who bunch together and then there are outcasts. Maybe im wrong in seeing what I have seen for the last year. Maybe im the problem expecting to much. rant over.

there is a reason why that thread is a sticky... It contains all the answers to the questions you just asked. I just scanned 4 pages of the thread and there was mention of 3 different reactors that are working well for people. I wasnt trying to NOT answer your specific questions at all. I was pointing you to a thread that contained tons of info about bio-pellets. specifically EcoBak which just happens to be a popular choice for MTRC members and for good reason.

 

[solar]

I don't even know what brand to consider or what to look for in a reactor. I really appreciate the feedback also. I just know i want to set this 40 up " right " the first time. I have gotten help from a select few members then ignored by others who have long standing in the club. Oh and the reactor i had looked almost identical to that one. Can you buy a reactor that is to big/small for your tank size. Plan on keeping this tank up for along time. Even when i upgrade it will be the frag tank and all equipment ect will stay on it. Just know alot of members run them and there happy about it. I had a whole different wall of text typed out but I didn't hit post I hit reply to thread and it got erased lol.

 

[NeveSSL]

I'm personally debating on brands, also. EcoBak is really popular in the club, and for good reason. It has worked really well for several members. I'm also considering Dr. Tim's and, kind of like what Rob D. was saying, I'm thinking about actually combining the two.

I don't think you can have one that's too big, but you can have one that's too small. The new reactors from Synergy are different than the last ones in a couple of different ways, but it may not be enough to make sense to you. Was there something particular you didn't like about your last one? We can find out if that's been changed or not if there is.

I'm also planning on setting up a 40g breeder or 3 for frag tanks and a refugium.

Brandon

 

[solar]

I'm personally debating on brands, also. EcoBak is really popular in the club, and for good reason. It has worked really well for several members. I'm also considering Dr. Tim's and, kind of like what Rob D. was saying, I'm thinking about actually combining the two.

I don't think you can have one that's too big, but you can have one that's too small. The new reactors from Synergy are different than the last ones in a couple of different ways, but it may not be enough to make sense to you. Was there something particular you didn't like about your last one? We can find out if that's been changed or not if there is.

I'm also planning on setting up a 40g breeder or 3 for frag tanks and a refugium.


Brandon

I didn't even get to use it. Alot of questions I had went unanswered so I ended up trading it for a sps colony. My last 40 was having really bad phos problems that i couldn't get under control although everything in the tank looked fine. Would this persay be a good one for my small tank. All the ones i seen in that thread were for a 100 plus gallon tank.
CPR Nano Tumbler Media Reactor - Bulk Reef Supply
Or this one? http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cpr-mini-tumbler-media-reactor.html

 

[NeveSSL]

They look like they could probably work. You won't need too many biopellets for your 40g breeder. According to the Eco Bak instructions, you will probably only need around 200ml total. I'm not sure how many that reactor will hold, and I don't think they say, but the larger of the two should handle 200ml I think.

Brandon

 

[Railcar79]

I would look into a phosban reactor, and run about 1/8 to 1/4 cup pellets

 

[solar]

They look like they could probably work. You won't need too many biopellets for your 40g breeder. According to the Eco Bak instructions, you will probably only need around 200ml total. I'm not sure how many that reactor will hold, and I don't think they say, but the larger of the two should handle 200ml I think.

Brandon

Ty that was the answer I was looking for. So all the pelets use different amoutn per tank volume?

I would look into a phosban reactor, and run about 1/8 to 1/4 cup pellets

Ty also, Do i have to mod the phosban reactor in anyway for it to work well?



Do I have to change the pellets ever?