bio-pellet reactor and Phosban Reactor
I would not recommend bio pellets to a new reefer, IMO bio pellets are an advanced for of carbon dosing and products like NOPOX are more reliable and consistant for someone new - although, IMO, carbon dosing in general is a more advanced form of nutrient mgt.
@nelrod722003 , NO3 and PO4 mgt is one of the most complicated and misunderstood facets of the hobby.
In simple terms, too high or too low NO3 and PO4 can cause problem. If you have corals, they need NO3 and PO4 for their bacteria to perform photosynthesis to make he the sugars corals need to grow.
While it's generally accepted that low NO3 is desired to keep algae from taking over, there are many successful tanks that have NO3 at levels that would make a beginner cringe. (less so for PO4). This is likely that successful high NO3 tanks are usually mature and have huge coral masses that can consume lots of No3 and PO4. This is important because mature tanks typically have a well developed microfauna community and clean up crew of vast variety that keep the nuisance stuff at bay - this less impact of high NO3.
Read up on the role of microfuana in a reef tank.
On the other spectrum, we see tanks with viscous problems because they drove NO3 and/orPO4 too low. Why, well these bad creatures are very resourceful and can get the N & P from other sources that corals cannot and so they start to thrive where microfauna and corals cannot.
This is a reflection that the hobby is good, too good, at removing NO3 and PO4 from our tanks.
Start by reading up and determining a desired target range for NO3 and PO4. Red Sea for mixed tanks recommends 1-2 ppm and 0.08 - 0.12ppm respectively. IMO, there is a little more flexibility on the high side of NO3 but I think the consensus is you don't want. to go higher than 0.12ppm on PO4.
Water changes and a skimmer should be sufficient for a Red Sea 170 tank to maintain proper levels.
If you find that water changes and the skimmer are not sufficient, then NOPOX is a good addition. Like anything else, go slow and follow the direction to a tee. NOPOX is a form of carbon dosing that feeds bacteria that can bind up dissolved organics, forming a flocculate that is removed by the skimmer. That flocculate out of control is the bacteria bloom. Also, carbon dosing can take down NO3 way faster than PO4 - which is why you start slow and some hobbyist will use GFO along with carbon dosing to help take down PO4 initially.
I can't caution you enough that bottoming out either or both can lead to cyano and/or dinos.
