considering a different route to remove phosphates....idea's on pellets? (1 Viewer)

[ReefMaster32787]

Hi there people I have am currently using a nextreef MR1 media reactor along with a dose of Rowaphos on my 90 gallon tank (110) with my sump. I also throw in a bag of chemo-pure elite into my filter sock these two combined do a fine job of keeping my phosphate's down. That's not the problem the problem is that I feel that I could utilize my reactor more so than I am. My reactor is 14 inches tall and with the rowaphos in the reactor it takes up about 2" max. Therefore I have 1' that is doing nothing also with the rowaphos my media holds oxygen/bubbles with the pump set so that the rowaphos gently tumbles and the pump eventually just trickles out water. What are your thoughts on bio-plastics/pellets, brands? If I make the switch I will be able to run my pump from the reactor at full force eliminating the bubbles and increasing the water flow.
Thanks

 

[msderganc]

In my experience, biopellets are better at removing nitrates than phosphates. So much so that I've had to deal with cyano which I think has been caused by essentially 0 nitrates and phosphates in the .03-.07 range. If you do end up going with biopellets, I would recommend going very very slowly. You want to keep slightly detectable nitrates in my opinion.

I didn't like the BRS biopellets. The Warner Marine ones are good, and I've mixed them with some of the new NP All In One pellets, which are supposedly better at dealing with phosphates. I think it's some combination of GFO and the bioplastic.

 

[Diesel]

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[adamg]

Warner MarineecoBAK » Warner Marine

 

[steveb]

In my experience, biopellets are better at removing nitrates than phosphates. So much so that I've had to deal with cyano which I think has been caused by essentially 0 nitrates and phosphates in the .03-.07 range. If you do end up going with biopellets, I would recommend going very very slowly. You want to keep slightly detectable nitrates in my opinion.

I didn't like the BRS biopellets. The Warner Marine ones are good, and I've mixed them with some of the new NP All In One pellets, which are supposedly better at dealing with phosphates. I think it's some combination of GFO and the bioplastic.

Same experience. Very good at nitrate reduction, not so much on the PO4.

 

[ReefMaster32787]

Currently my Hanna Checker shows that PO4 is at 0.12. Typically my PO4 is fairly stable at 0.03 but being as I have neglected certain things my carbon is exhausted as well as the Rowaphos. Which is in part why I ask about the pellets

 

[Diesel]

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[dark8nge1]

I think you guys are right that bio pellets do strip nitrates quicker than phosphates so the issue is that you get into an imbalance of redfields so there isnt a way to reduce phosphates down to 0 without intervention. I had the same issue until I realized this an now it's easy to manage with bio pellets. I run way less than any recommended qty as well.

 

[ReefMaster32787]

I am leaning to the bio-pellets, as I now realize that they also work to eliminate nitrates before than turn to PO4 or at least that sounds right to me. I will read up on the above mentioned brands are they available locally?

 

[ReefMaster32787]

Duh.... never mind the comment about nitrates to phosphates. I had a moment

 

[msderganc]

I haven't seen many locally, but you may be able to find them. Again, go slowly with adding them or you'll end up with an imbalance of phosphates to nitrates.

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[BiGPiNK]

I wonder if this might interest. I came across it looking for pellets for my reactor
I'm going back to biomaxx, had good success with it, but having said that, I've been looking at these recently
Reef Interests All-In-One BioPellets

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[msderganc]

I wonder if this might interest. I came across it looking for pellets for my reactor
I'm going back to biomaxx, had good success with it, but having said that, I've been looking at these recently
Reef Interests All-In-One BioPellets

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Yeah, those were the ones I mentioned earlier. I've been using them for a couple weeks and I've noticed a slight difference (probably not the 27x they claim, but it'll probably be a couple weeks before I can really say for sure).

 

[Nickig23]

I have a question. I have a small media reactor that I run gfo in. Would I be able to use these all in one or any bio pellets in it? Here is a picture of mine. I don't know the exact size.

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[ReefMaster32787]

As long as it circulates water it should do fine.

 

[Nickig23]

Sweet! Thanks!!


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[Nickig23]

Another question, if I go with these all in one pellets, which ml package do I need? Or want? 250, 500, 1000? I have a 92gal, 110ish with sump.


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[emixa]

um, so dumb thing but I would first figure out what is causing you to use this stuff in the first place. I am not a big person for stripping out completely all these from the tank as your tank still uses them in a very small way. I used to have (2) reactors going 24/7 (one BRS GFO and the other Carbon Rox). I have read some studies and looked at a few members tanks and they have a pretty stable tank and don't use it. I stopped using it and just maintained my water changes and it naturally allowed me to stop using GFO. have you tried that? and I am no expert by any means but I have learned in this crack like hobby that sometimes these fast way methods have only triggered something else wrong, not to mention the draining of my wallet. again, only my opinion, but try to do some water changes to drop your phosphate and see what is triggering this growth. is it your food? change foods are go more natural.

 

[Diesel]

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[Nickig23]

For me, I do weekly or biweekly water changes. Here recently every couple of days. My issue is that I probably feed too much, but I feel like everyone is starving. And they look like they eat the food within a few seconds. I have never used reactors before just a bag of carbon. So after reading and finding one on sale here I got it. Nitrates are my biggest problem they go from 5-40 every couple of days. And I'm ready to pull my hair out over it. phosphates are not usually an issue. But after adding the gfo over half of my corals started extending and multiplying.


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