Well I did it

[pgr11]

Im starting to run bp. Picked up the reactor tonight. I know some will say "don't do it" but I wanna give it a shot.

 

[j.p. harrington]

everyone had there own opinions if i already didnt run all the filtration methods i do id try em that a nice looking reactor BTW

 

[jikm2187]

That is a nifty looking reactor. Noob question though. Why would some say not to run bp?

 

[pgr11]

Thanks. From the reports from people I know using the reactor they say it's pretty sweet. You always hear the horror stories but never the success stories. I'm gonna go slow and ramp up.

 

[pgr11]

That is a nifty looking reactor. Noob question though. Why would some say not to run bp?

It has the ability to strip the water very quickly killing your coral. Stability is the best for a reef so big changes are no good. Thus im starting slow

 

[jikm2187]

It has the ability to strip the water very quickly killing your coral. Stability is the best for a reef so big changes are no good. Thus im starting slow

But this correct me if I'm wrong is the case with anything GFO, carbon, calcium reactors right? The main purpose in bp is to keep phosphates and nitrites in check right? To me it would become a bad media if it kept those parameters unstable. I'm not disagreeing that the general consensus is to not use it. Just trying to get to the bottom of why it has such a bad wrap.

 

[j.p. harrington]

But this correct me if I'm wrong is the case with anything GFO, carbon, calcium reactors right? The main purpose in bp is to keep phosphates and nitrites in check right? To me it would become a bad media if it kept those parameters unstable. I'm not disagreeing that the general consensus is to not use it. Just trying to get to the bottom of why it has such a bad wrap.

what he is saying is say you nitrates are reading 20 and u havnt been able to get below that for a year well your corals and livestock have adjusted to that and BAM one day you hook this bad boy up and withing a 2 week span you have dropped them to 2ppm thats a major change and a rapid one. the corals dont like change like that. thats why alot of ppls corals melt because instead of slowing dosing say ALK they dump a big lump sum in the tank which in turns causes an alk swing that they dont like

 

[jikm2187]

Now I see. So next question, what can you do to "start off slow"?

 

[Clay4AU]

BP are a form of carbon dosing i.e. vodka/vinegar. It feeds bacteria and can cause cyno blooms if there's not enough "good" bacteria to consume it.
You may even want to dose good bacteria like KZ Zeobak or Microbacter7 to help get you started.
You can start slow by only using 20% of the recommended amount of pellets and increasing gradually over a few weeks.

Also very important, you must run a skimmer and direct the effluent from the reactor directly into the skimmer's intake.

 

[jikm2187]

BP are a form of carbon dosing i.e. vodka/vinegar. It feeds bacteria and can cause cyno blooms if there's not enough "good" bacteria to consume it.
You may even want to dose good bacteria like KZ Zeobak or Microbacter7 to help get you started.
You can start slow by only using 20% of the recommended amount of pellets and increasing gradually over a few weeks.

Also very important, you must run a skimmer and direct the effluent from the reactor directly into the skimmer's intake.

In this post I am probably going to get schooled. But this is my understanding. So hear we go. Bp take the place of multiple thing carbon and phosphate remover at least right? Now dosing bacteria I get, bp are basically a synthetic live rock rubble correct, but wouldn't that strip the water faster? To me it would seem counter productive dosing bacteria and starting at 20% max load. I'm just asking. As I have said this is just my understand of bp, so please take it easy.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

In this post I am probably going to get schooled. But this is my understanding. So hear we go. Bp take the place of multiple thing carbon and phosphate remover at least right? Now dosing bacteria I get, bp are basically a synthetic live rock rubble correct, but wouldn't that strip the water faster? To me it would seem counter productive dosing bacteria and starting at 20% max load. I'm just asking. As I have said this is just my understand of bp, so please take it easy.

The bacteria eat the biopellets, and as a byprocess also consume nitrates and phosphates. It will replace a nitrate reactor and phosphate reducers, but not carbon. The rocks support more kinds of bacteria, but htey cannot multiply as rapidly without the carbon source, in this case biopellets.

 

[SPSjunky]

thats a nice looking reactor

 

[Clay4AU]

In this post I am probably going to get schooled. But this is my understanding. So hear we go. Bp take the place of multiple thing carbon and phosphate remover at least right? Now dosing bacteria I get, bp are basically a synthetic live rock rubble correct, but wouldn't that strip the water faster? To me it would seem counter productive dosing bacteria and starting at 20% max load. I'm just asking. As I have said this is just my understand of bp, so please take it easy.

I'm no expert but I do like to talk, so here's my thoughts. I think BP do more for removing nitrates and phosphates. I still think carbon should be run to remove the oils from putting your arm in the tank and help with coral's chemical warfare. BP should replace GFO and phosphate remover but ween the tank off both as you increase the BP.

BP is carbon dosing that feeds bacteria. Rubble is media bacteria grows on.
I agree dosing and ramping could cause issues. I would just ramp up and not dose, I've never dosed the bacteria.
Although, if someone started with max load BP the bacteria would probably be necessary.

 

[Clay4AU]

thats a nice looking reactor

+1 I'd like to know the brand and who carries them.

 

[jikm2187]

I'm no expert but I do like to talk, so here's my thoughts. I think BP do more for removing nitrates and phosphates. I still think carbon should be run to remove the oils from putting your arm in the tank and help with coral's chemical warfare. BP should replace GFO and phosphate remover but ween the tank off both as you increase the BP.

BP is carbon dosing that feeds bacteria. Rubble is media bacteria grows on.
I agree dosing and ramping could cause issues. I would just ramp up and not dose, I've never dosed the bacteria.
Although, if someone started with max load BP the bacteria would probably be necessary.

ok, please understand i wasn't saying you were wrong just looking for a little clarity. Now is it only necessary to feed it directly to the skimmer during the initial ramp up or at all times?

 

[Clay4AU]

ok, please understand i wasn't saying you were wrong just looking for a little clarity. Now is it only necessary to feed it directly to the skimmer during the initial ramp up or at all times?

No problem I didn't take it that way just wanted you to know I'm no expert on them.

You will want it feeding into the skimmer at all times. I think to pull out the byproducts before they hit the tank.
Your skimmate will get darker and nastier than ever.

 

[jikm2187]

Thanks for the help clay.

 

[MattL22]

Im always surprised when I read these threads that no one brings up the issue of alk and carbon dosing

If my alk goes over 8 /8.5 my sps atart to STn

 

[Clay4AU]

Im always surprised when I read these threads that no one brings up the issue of alk and carbon dosing

Well please enlighten us...

 

[jikm2187]

Im always surprised when I read these threads that no one brings up the issue of alk and carbon dosing

If my alk goes over 8 /8.5 my sps atart to STn

Carbon dosing was brought up I thought?

So just had a thought while I was unboxing my bp I just got in today. People run carbon and GFO in the same reactor. Possible to do the same with bp? Now, I would assume the tumbling would break done the bp faster. Just currious.