SPS losing color....biopellets

[bucfan]

I've been running biopellets using Reef Dynamics reactor for ~ 2 weeks now. The reactor output valve is set to 1/4 so that not a lot of flow is coming out. My NO/PO levels have not yet been affected yet. All other parameters are pretty stable. However I've noticed my SPS losing color and some are bleaching. I've heard that can be a problem with biopellets. What must I do? Stop the biopellets or keep through it hoping it will turn around?

 

[bucksfan1976]

Well since there does not seem to be any difference in your water chemistry I dont know if they would be the cause Ive been running pellets for aprox 3 months and have not noticed any difference in the corals. Has anything else changed, new lights, flow anything like that?

 

[mike007]

You may try feeding your corals a little more than what you have been. With dosing sometimes they Need more to satisfy there nutriet needs.

 

[Reefologist]

A lot of times the heavy swing in ALK from adding biopellets will cause this, but mainly in ULNS systems. Have you tested nutrients and foundation elements?

 

[bucfan]

Nothing else has changed. I've upped the feed a bit since I started running bp.

 

[bucfan]

A lot of times the heavy swing in ALK from adding biopellets will cause this, but mainly in ULNS systems. Have you tested nutrients and foundation elements?

I have a bare bottom. Is that ULNS?

 

[Reefologist]

You may try feeding your corals a little more than what you have been. With dosing sometimes they Need more to satisfy there nutriet needs.

+1 on that

 

[Eric B]

Like bucksfan said don't think it's the pellets as I have had them going for almost 6 months with no issues especially since your levels have not shown to have dropped yet. Also on the biopellets did you start with a lower amount in the reactor since you are just adding them to your system.

 

[Reefologist]

I have a bare bottom. Is that ULNS?

Ultra Low Nutrient Stsyem - NO3 less than 1 and PO4 less than .06 depending on who ya talk to. Ha the water become cloudy or cleared up?

 

[bucfan]

Ultra Low Nutrient Stsyem - NO3 less than 1 and PO4 less than .06 depending on who ya talk to. Ha the water become cloudy or cleared up?

Water is clear. Those are dream NO/PO numbers which I've never had. Hence I started using bp.

 

[Reefologist]

Like bucksfan said don't think it's the pellets as I have had them going for almost 6 months with no issues especially since your levels have not shown to have dropped yet.

Agreed, pellets are a great source of carbon provided you have Really aggressive skimming, I've had mine for 2 years now in an SPS dominant tank(acros). Likely it's the impact of pellets on "available" nutrient that causes these reactions, I would stay with the pellets since you took the plunge on the reactor(great system). I run the reef dynamics 250 biopellet reactor into a Reef dynamics INS250, is your biopellet reactor reef dynamics as well?

 

[bucfan]

is your biopellet reactor reef dynamics as well?

my biopellet reactor is the Reef Dynamics one, I use a RLSS skimmer

 

[Reefologist]

my biopellet reactor is the Reef Dynamics one, I use a RLSS skimmer

Is the reactor all the way open?

 

[Reefologist]

my biopellet reactor is the Reef Dynamics one, I use a RLSS skimmer

The effluent flow out if the top I mean

 

[bucfan]

No it's open 1/4 or so.

 

[bucfan]

Like bucksfan said don't think it's the pellets as I have had them going for almost 6 months with no issues especially since your levels have not shown to have dropped yet. Also on the biopellets did you start with a lower amount in the reactor since you are just adding them to your system.

I started with 1/2 the recommended amount.

 

[jduck]

Have you tested all your level pre pellets and again now?

 

[bucfan]

Have you tested all your level pre pellets and again now?

Yes no significant change in either NO or PO.

 

[kschweer]

What is your pH at? I have heard that adding the pellets to an established tank can effect the pH. The way I understand it is that the excess "new" bacteria can put off higher levels of co2 effecting the pH.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

your water has become a little bit cleaner. the light is penetrating deeper you might want to raise the light a couple inches or put a few layers of screen on top of your tank that should settle it.