Video: Biopellets - What you need to know

[melev]

Is it worth it to run biopellets in a diy reactor? I have an extra tlf phosban 150 I could put some plastic sheets in. My main concern is that my skimmer isn't good enough to keep up with biopellets. Like you said in the video, it pulls out Tea not sludge.

What is your current nitrate level?

 

[ReeferReefer]

What is your current nitrate level?

Currently reading 0 ppm on my API kit, I'm wanting to get a more accurate test kit though since I am ramping up feeding to 2-3 times a day. I'm running a 90g with a decent bioload. I have a foxface, 2 fire fish, starry blenny, Leopard wrasse, solar fairy wrasse and flame angel. Looking to add a fish or two more and I like my fish fat and happy. Perhaps it's not needed since my nitrates are so low? Perhaps my Calurpa fuge does the job just fine.

 

[melev]

Currently reading 0 ppm on my API kit, I'm wanting to get a more accurate test kit though since I am ramping up feeding to 2-3 times a day. I'm running a 90g with a decent bioload. I have a foxface, 2 fire fish, starry blenny, Leopard wrasse, solar fairy wrasse and flame angel. Looking to add a fish or two more and I like my fish fat and happy. Perhaps it's not needed since my nitrates are so low? Perhaps my Calurpa fuge does the job just fine.

You don't need them yet, but if you begin to see a rise in Nitrate, it might be a method worth considering.

 

[lariat8099]

GREAT video I learned a ton from it and how my Bio reactor works. Thanks

 

[lariat8099]

GREAT video I learned a ton from it and how my Bio reactor works. Thanks

 

[Chris Adams]

Thank you very much for doing this. I want to feed tank heavier. Only feeding 3 times a week or so.
I have an IM 38 running couple years. Mixed reef mostly leaning more on the SPS side.
May have some slight nitrate 1 - 2ppm using API . Only 2 clowns mixed reef(yes I want to add more just waiting on the right fish )
Phos .05 (just added some gfo Sunday to lower this, need to retest)
Due 10gl WC a week. Like to limit this and still feed daily
No sump at this time just utilizing chaeto and some rock in back chambers

Can you suggest a good reactor?
Is it worth while to run the reactor on the smaller tanks?
If you are limited to the amount of pellets per gallon is there an amount where is is just going to be ineffective?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I have a few question. I missed it in the video I think. My dose MB7? Also, I've been running Dr. Tim's pearls for 2 months in a Sicce bio pellet reactor and my nitrates are still between 5-15. The outlet is next to the skimmer inlet.

 

[melev]

Thank you very much for doing this. I want to feed tank heavier. Only feeding 3 times a week or so.
I have an IM 38 running couple years. Mixed reef mostly leaning more on the SPS side.
May have some slight nitrate 1 - 2ppm using API . Only 2 clowns mixed reef(yes I want to add more just waiting on the right fish )
Phos .05 (just added some gfo Sunday to lower this, need to retest)
Due 10gl WC a week. Like to limit this and still feed daily
No sump at this time just utilizing chaeto and some rock in back chambers

Can you suggest a good reactor?
Is it worth while to run the reactor on the smaller tanks?
If you are limited to the amount of pellets per gallon is there an amount where is is just going to be ineffective?

I'd say since you aren't using a sump (or a skimmer?) and relying on water changes, stick to that. It's been working for you thus far. For nano setups including AIO units, it may be easier overall to use something like NoPox and expect excellent results.

 

[melev]

I have a few question. I missed it in the video I think. My dose MB7? Also, I've been running Dr. Tim's pearls for 2 months in a Sicce bio pellet reactor and my nitrates are still between 5-15. The outlet is next to the skimmer inlet.

Those biopellets are only now about to kick in, because it takes about four weeks for them to get populated. Are you dosing Mb7 weekly?

 

[Chris Adams]

I'd say since you aren't using a sump (or a skimmer?) and relying on water changes, stick to that. It's been working for you thus far. For nano setups including AIO units, it may be easier overall to use something like NoPox and expect excellent results.

Sorry I do have a "ok skimmer" Not a Great skimmer... ha ha loved that part of the video.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Those biopellets are only now about to kick in, because it takes about four weeks for them to get populated. Are you dosing Mb7 weekly?

No I am not. Should I be? Its been over 8 weeks now.

 

[melev]

Sorry I do have a "ok skimmer" Not a Great skimmer... ha ha loved that part of the video.

It's hard to describe a cheap skimmer (cough cough Seaclone cough cough).... but there are some really crappy ones on the market. Skilter was okay, but hardly pulling out anything respectable. It should pull out stuff that seems muddy, not like watery tea.

 

[melev]

No I am not. Should I be? Its been over 8 weeks now.

Please watch the video with the sound on.

 

[Animal Chin]

I watched......with sound.....lol I'm 8 weeks in and I'm using 500mls for my 125 gallon (figure I have 100 g's of water) and since I've started my nitrates have gone up a bit! I'm wondering if its because I have almost no phosphates that my pellets haven't kicked in as I run rowaphos in a reactor too. Should I turn off the phosphate reactor to let the biopellets really get populated? I don't know if I could find microbacter7 as there isn't much in the way of salt supplies where I'm from...

 

[melev]

Nitrates may rise while you wait for the biopellets to kick in. There is a relationship to phosphate, but it's 16:1 or something like that. You can order Microbacter 7 online (Amazon, MarineDepot, etc) to get them working as they should. I don't run any GFO on my system, if that matters.

 

[Scubabum]

Melev my Nitrate has been steady at 10ppm. Trying to cut that number in half. I started biopellets 7 weeks ago but was not using MB7. After seeing your video I purchased some MB7. How should I dose the MB7? The instructions say for a high nutrient tank or a new tank dose 1 capful per 25 gallons everyday for 2 weeks. Should I dose MB7 this way or just during weekly water change. Thanks

 

[melev]

Melev my Nitrate has been steady at 10ppm. Trying to cut that number in half. I started biopellets 7 weeks ago but was not using MB7. After seeing your video I purchased some MB7. How should I dose the MB7? The instructions say for a high nutrient tank or a new tank dose 1 capful per 25 gallons everyday for 2 weeks. Should I dose MB7 this way or just during weekly water change. Thanks

I would dose 1 capful per 25g once a week. And don't worry about 10 ppm. That's pretty decent. It will come down lower as the biopellets kick in. No reason to aim for zero though. If you can get them down to 5 ppm, that would be good.

 

[Gools]

Any suggestions on how I could hook this up? My problem being that my main tank is upstairs and gravity feeds to my skimmer down stairs. How bad is it, if I don't feed the output of my BP into my skimmer?

 

[TbyZ]

So I dont understand why you need to dose bacteria regularly when our tanks are full of denitrifying bacteria colonies in our tanks. Is the dosed bacteria different from the bacteria already existing in our aquariums? Is this dosing needed for other carbon sources as well?

Because skimming only removes some types of bacteria & not others