New Approach!

[rage1199]

Been running Bio pellets in a pellet reactor for 6 months now nitrates are high 40ppm never came down really went up a bit in the time. Phosphate are low .06 Hanna. All my sps and corals have color but things are just not growing how they are suppose too. 40 ppm nitrates is to high. I have an extra spot open in my dosser so today I start dosing vinegar. Started at 15 ml a day will go up every week. Saw a person who had a beautiful SPS bare bottom tank in the Tampa area and he had Seachems Matrix in a reactor and swears that dosing vinegar and the matrix to grow bacteria he has had great results. I have reactor that I used for the bio pellets so I am going to fill it will Matrix and see what happens. I don't know if other have tried this never seen it discussed before so I will post my results. I will do a water change and see what happens in a few months.

 

[jonnyu]

I will be interested on your results. Keep us posted

 

[rovster]

Sounds like it may by similar to a zeovit method. You may want to slowly wean the system of BP and slowly ramp up the carbon dosing. Have you checked your nitrate kit? Bio pellets are usually too efficient at stripping nitrate. Something sounds funny....GL!

 

[rage1199]

Sounds like it may by similar to a zeovit method. You may want to slowly wean the system of BP and slowly ramp up the carbon dosing. Have you checked your nitrate kit? Bio pellets are usually too efficient at stripping nitrate. Something sounds funny....GL!

I was using a salifert went and got a red sea kit same result.

 

[nivram]

Are you using enough bio pellets? What kind of reactor are you using?

 

[rage1199]

Are you using enough bio pellets? What kind of reactor are you using?

I was using a Aquamaxx biopellets reactor I had 750ml of EcoBak plus bio pellets. I am now 2 weeks in to vinegar is at 90ml set this morning. nitrates at 25 ppm phosphate actually went up a bit to .09 Hanna. Also started dosing Brightwell Microbacktor7 to help the reactor kick start.

 

[rage1199]

I do have to say that the reactor with matrix is beginning to fill with bacteria. Also on my glass some bacteria film.

 

[rage1199]

It is now 1 month in and no progress still high nitrates at 50 now and low phosphate at .04 120ml of vinegar

a day no progress I must have other issues.

 

[miamiangler]

I had the same reading on phosphate .04 and used GFO and was down to .000 the next day .I don't use bio pellets .

 

[rage1199]

This was a disaster from the start. Nitrates are now at 80, but phosphate is still low. the matrix did not work. Going to the frag swap and going to some education on denitrators from Matt. All the vinegar did was drop my PH at the end, but I was over doing it a bit.