NP Bio Pellets up and running

[phippsj]

I have my biopelelts reactor up and running, and almost nuked my tank. I picked up the SMR1 reactor and had the flow too high (even though it looked like a gentle tumble). I also did not have enough of the discharge from the reactor getting skimmed. The tank had a white cloudy appearance, which is an indication that cultures were not contained to the reactor.

As a result, PH dropped to 7.1 in one night and all my coral are in shock. Today I cut the flow to the reactor by about 50%, and all pellets still tumble. I also hooked up an airline to one of my powerheads so I am flooding my display with air.

SO, for anyone considering this for their tanks, I would recommmend plumbing the reactor discharge directly to the skimmer. Those setups seem to be the most stable and efficient.

[txg8gxp]

I have had pellets running for about 3 weeks now. I to had a small bloom in the tank, it lasted about 2 days...but now the water looks awesome. I think the lower pH is going to be the hardest thing for most people to handle. I still need to raise mine alittle more. What pump are you running. I have the SMR1 XL with about 500ml of pellets with a mag3 running full power.

[phippsj]

I have had pellets running for about 3 weeks now. I to had a small bloom in the tank, it lasted about 2 days...but now the water looks awesome. I think the lower pH is going to be the hardest thing for most people to handle. I still need to raise mine alittle more. What pump are you running. I have the SMR1 XL with about 500ml of pellets with a mag3 running full power.

I was running it with an old skimmer pump and I just control the flow into the reactor. I have the SMR1 with 1000ML. Did your coral take a nose dive when you started and pull out, or did you have to get the PH to raise? It will be interesting to see if I have buffering issues long term with this. If so then I will re-plumb directly into the skimmer.

[Europhyllia]

This is my second round with biopellets and it almost feels as if these new smaller pellets carry a bigger punch.
They're more effective but side effects seems to be more noticable too (to me)
They pretty much eliminated any trace of stuff (nitrite, nitrate, etc.) but they also seemed to create more CO2 (or course) in the process.
On the old set up I ran the skimmer with a CO2 scruber so that may have helped as well.
On the new set up I just have an air pump going through the CO2 scrubber. Haven't run it long enough to see where pH ends up with long term.

[txg8gxp]

I have noticed that the water seems to be super crystal clear now, and I can go several more days before even needing to clean the glass and even then theres not much to clean.

[phippsj]

My PH is now at 7.4... I have the bio pellet reactor off and it still dropped in the last 4 hours. Hopefully this does not crash my tank!

[txg8gxp]

I have my reactor output right at my skimmer intake. Just an idea, but try to get rid of some co2. Open window, run skimmer airline out the window, keep a powerhead disturbing the water surface something like that. I plan to add a co2 scrubber to mine like karin did. Last I tested my pH was right at 7.9-8.0, but I'm also using kalk now.

[Europhyllia]

phippsj what is your alkalinity at?

[phippsj]

Alk is at 8. I finally resorted to the baking soda to get the PH to stop dropping. Stabalized now at 7.8, I am afraid to run more. I do have the skimmer airline coming in from outside. I also ran a bubbler and wedged the airhose in the grates of a powerhead, that really kicks out some air bubbles. Not ideal, but better than losing all my livestock.

Before I turn that reactor on again I am taking out 3/4 of the media!

[CoryDude]

Come to the Hiatt side of the bacterial force.

[txg8gxp]

How big is your tank, and how much livestock.

[Europhyllia]

Alk at 8 is on the low side IMO.
I wouldn't despair yet. Boost alk and pH shall follow.

Oh Cory don't pretend like your Hiatt don't stink...

[phippsj]

Well, alk held steady at 8 last night, PH has remained steady at 8.2 since last night, and the reactor is off. So, now it is just a matter of letting the coral recover. Most of my really nice pieces are doing OK... I have some ultra grade blastos that are still very mad, but the Wilsoni Brain and Open Brain did really well. Most of the acans are fine, just one rainbow frag that is mad. As fast of a PH drop as I had, I am happy that there have been no actual casualties yet.

So, once the coral recover I will try this again... but I will be going VERY slow this time :)

BTW, the tank is a 180G with a 30 gallon sump. Two tangs, two clowns, one fox face, a royal gamma, 4 firefish and 2 blue/green chromis.

[jesserettele]

This is my second round with biopellets and it almost feels as if these new smaller pellets carry a bigger punch.
They're more effective but side effects seems to be more noticable too (to me)
They pretty much eliminated any trace of stuff (nitrite, nitrate, etc.) but they also seemed to create more CO2 (or course) in the process.
On the old set up I ran the skimmer with a CO2 scruber so that may have helped as well.
On the new set up I just have an air pump going through the CO2 scrubber. Haven't run it long enough to see where pH ends up with long term.

CO2 Scrubber? I am interested. Don't mean to hijack but I have been reading about biopellets and am also planning on running a calcium reactor (both produce increased levels of CO2 from what I have read) and am interested in any way to lower CO2 levels. I found this one from bulk reef supply for $75 http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/the-co2-scrubber-kit-raises-ph.html and read about the one from filter guys DIY version with the cheaper refills as you mentioned in another thread Karin http://www.thefilterguys.biz/skimmer_media.htm
Does this system restrict the air intake of teh skimmer venturi?





I have my biopelelts reactor up and running, and almost nuked my tank. I picked up the SMR1 reactor and had the flow too high (even though it looked like a gentle tumble). I also did not have enough of the discharge from the reactor getting skimmed. The tank had a white cloudy appearance, which is an indication that cultures were not contained to the reactor.

As a result, PH dropped to 7.1 in one night and all my coral are in shock. Today I cut the flow to the reactor by about 50%, and all pellets still tumble. I also hooked up an airline to one of my powerheads so I am flooding my display with air.

SO, for anyone considering this for their tanks, I would recommmend plumbing the reactor discharge directly to the skimmer. Those setups seem to be the most stable and efficient.

Would you guys think that running a CO2 scrubber on the skimmer venturi plus dripping the effulent to the water intake of the skimmer help reduce CO2 even more?

[Europhyllia]

Yes Jesse that's the ones.
Our sponsor buckeye field supply carries the media too I believe.
I think both would help.

[phippsj]

Well, it looks like everything has pulled through. I have alk up to 9 now, PH is at 8.3, and nothing died. Still have some mushrooms that are upset, but everything should pull through.

Makes me wonder... if I can take my tank through drastic PH changes, temp swings of 6 to 8 degrees in a day, huge salinity swings, ALK swings, and everything else I have done wrong through my first years of reef keeping... how is it that our natural reefs are dying from a water temp change of a few degrees? I guess we just take the hardy corals for the hobby... makes me scratch my head though.

[rpc]

For those that were on the fence... NP Biopellets dropped their price 20% now. I got the message from a vendor that isn't a sponsor, so I'm not sure if I am allowed to post the link.

Even at $80, it seems to steep for me. I'll stick with the dual purpose vodka.

-richard