What is the RIGHT PELLET and TUMBLE???

Dtech07 · Feb 28, 2014

Many of use a Bio-Pellet Reactor and some are looking into starting one on their system to assist with N03/P04 reduction.

Some of the questions im asked
1)what brand Reactor do I use?
2) what type of pellets do I use?
3) What's my tumble rate?
Ect.......

I've learned that Bio-Reactors can cause many issue if rushed and not properly maintained so my motto is LOW AND SLOW.

So my lets see what your working with and tumble speeds that's worked for you.
If possible post a small video of your reactors tumble and picture of the type reactor and pellets your using.

I Use:
A Aqualund Recirculating Bio-Pellet for a year and half now.

Bio-Pellets and Bacteria:
Dr Tim's Pearl Bio-Pellets and I seed the pellets with Dr Tim's Waste Away (when changing out pellets or adding pellets only).

Tumble Rate:
[video=youtube;5O0b2H7RjtE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O0b2H7RjtE&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Dtech07 · Feb 28, 2014

Bump...

Eckolancer · Feb 28, 2014

That is maybe a little more then mine but I'm new to this as well.

Dtech07 · Mar 1, 2014

Well it was to see what everyone who was doing it set up was like and possible pictures.

Greenstreet.1 · Mar 1, 2014

I have been running NPX pellets for a year now in a SMR1 reactor feed off of a manifold feed by the return pump the outlet of the reactor goes into my refugium then to the skimmer. Nitrates always read zero phosphate the last time I test was at 0.09 never really seen it work on phos but some people say that it needs some nitrate to be present in order to work on the phos. My tumble is not a heavy one I just give it enough flow that all the pellets are moving I never take out any pellets every 3-4 months I just replace what was used up. Never had any kind of bad bacteria bloom.

Eckolancer · Mar 1, 2014

Here is a pic of mine fed from my return as well.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1393678455.386182.jpg

Dtech07 · Mar 1, 2014

Nice setups and write anyone else using Bio-Pellet Reactors?

SchnitzelReef · Mar 1, 2014

I'm using the cad lights bio pellet reactor. I like it a lot. I have a manifold and was gunna run a modified media reactor, but the cadlights reactor works so well. Has zero issues with clumping haven't touched the reactor in about a year. (Other then to add pellets). I have the pellets tumbling slow and steady. Whenever I crank up the flow and get the pellets tumbling really fast, my zoos start to close up.

Dtech07 · Mar 1, 2014

SchnitzelReef said:
I'm using the cad lights bio pellet reactor. I like it a lot. I have a manifold and was gunna run a modified media reactor, but the cadlights reactor works so well. Has zero issues with clumping haven't touched the reactor in about a year. (Other then to add pellets). I have the pellets tumbling slow and steady. Whenever I crank up the flow and get the pellets tumbling really fast, my zoos start to close up.

Nice write up do you have any photos? And true the Bio-Pellet Reactor does seem to be the only dial in and forget equipment me my tank also.

Dashiki · Mar 1, 2014

I was using a Tlf reactor for a year and just changed to the cad lights recirc.

I'm usng Thrive Bio-crush.

Still trying to figure out the settings on the cad lights

I used MB7 to seed them.

redfishbluefish · Mar 1, 2014

I have the JNS Alpha 2 Biopellet Reactor. Here it is when I first installed it in the sump with only one cup of pellets….oh, and the pellets I’m using are from BRS.

I have the “exit” pipe coming over the baffle wall and exiting at the pick-up of the skimmer….look closely and you can see the clear exit pipe coming down from above.

Now I was also told that the bacteria like a little privacy and prefer to be in the dark….they multiply faster. So I put a piece of double walled drainage pipe around the body of the reactor…amazingly a four inch drainage pipe fit perfectly. Where the cut line was in the pipe, I put a piece of black electrical tape on the reactor to make sure no light was getting in. I also put a door on the reactor so that I could peak….here it is with the door open.

I don’t know how to post videos, but when the reactor is running, you only see pellets going by the window….fully covered with pellets. And that is with the pump set to the lowest setting.

I’ve had this running since June 2013…and loving it. I haven’t been tracking numbers, but can tell you with observations that it’s working. Shortly after starting the reactor, my cheato started “melting” away. It didn’t take long for that to be totally gone. I also purposely had a healthy crop of hair algae in my sump, and that is almost all gone…a few strands left. I also can’t tell you the last time I cleaned my glass…maybe two weeks ago. So it is definitely working. I also went through a stage were my skimmate stunk to high heavens…a thiol smell (rotten eggs). It was so bad, I had to empty my skimmate locker at least once a week….it stunk up the room. I tried putting “anti-smell” stuff in the locker, with no effect. However, it must have been a stage…maybe the algae’s melting….because it’s not as bad now.

One additional note….if you run biopellets, run your alk on the low side. I try to keep mine at 7 dKH.

Dtech07 · Mar 1, 2014

Interesting I dint think about creating a dark area for the reactor? What did you use to wrap it?
Nice setup and clean looking setup.

stunreefer · Mar 1, 2014

Dtech07 said:
What did you use to wrap it?

...

redfishbluefish said:
So I put a piece of double walled drainage pipe around the body of the reactor…amazingly a four inch drainage pipe fit perfectly.

Dtech07 · Mar 1, 2014

Missed that thanks I'm going to experiment with that. Their already sitting in a dark are but wrapped would seem better.

redfishbluefish · Mar 1, 2014

Dtech07 said:
Interesting I dint think about creating a dark area for the reactor? What did you use to wrap it?
Nice setup and clean looking setup.

I used THIS four inch drain pipe….found at Home Depot…and yes, I purchase ten feet. I gave a bunch of it to local club members so they could do the same. If you lived closer, I have a couple feet left.

I first cut the pipe to length and then slit it length wise. I used a straight edge with a sharp razor knife. To create the door, I simply sliced two cuts a couple inches apart and the same length and then carefully bent the piece back.

Now I went as far as thermoforming a piece of plexiglass to the arc of the pipe and attached it by tapping and screwing it to the door with Teflon tapered bolts. This latch would be held closed with a third, longer bolt to which a nut was attached. Well guess what….this wasn’t necessary. The door stays closed just by the tight frictional fit.

To attach this to the reactor I first put a piece of black electrical tape the height of the reactor. The pipe was put around the reactor and the vertical slit was positioned over the black tape. The pipe was held in place with two zip ties.