Biopellet question

[ramsey]

Since I have to get a new tank, I'm thinking about going with no fuge and using biopellets. I've read stories about bacteria blooms which makes me a little nervous though. Would it be wise to start off with a smaller mount of pellets then slowly increase to wait it needs to be? Any other advice or suggestions?

I'l leaning towards the Nextreef reactor and warner marine pellets.

[ramsey]

One more question. I've read and heard you need a good skimmer if you're going to carbon dose. Do you guys think a PM Redline 125 would be enough for a 180G? That's what I currently have and it seems to get really good skimmate.

[allan]

I read stanchris' np pellet journal yesterday and it appears that he and two others advise an incremental increase of pellets over time to mitigate the bloom.

His journal has me contemplating the pellets as well.

[alton]

Here is brightwells answer
http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/neozeot.php

[Europhyllia]

For what it's worth I think I just read in Murray's thread that the bloom is due to labile organics. I kept up with the pellets thread on RC when the pellet thing started and the way I understood it was that the pellets only get eaten in proportion to the availability of N & P available. So if you have a ton of pellets but only a little N&P the N&P will be the limiting factor.

In other words I am not sure that the pellets themselves would be considered labile?

I could see the little bit at a time thing easing things in an existing system but for a new set up I'd just go for the all at once and get it over approach myself.

I've had some horrid bacteria blooms related to me running pellets and it hasn't really affected anything as far as I can tell.

If I was you I'd just try the skimmer you have and if it can't keep you (you'll know if it doesn't) then get a better one. It will in part depend on how much nutrients are being converted by the pellets (and how much byproduct there is going to be)

In regards to what brand to use: Jason from Premium Aquatics posted some pics and good info on that RC thread.
I have been using the original NP pellets for awhile (in part because the creator of them was so very helpful in answering my questions via email. I jumped on the pellet bandwagon long before it became so popular so some things were still in the figure it out stage and I wanted to give my business to the person that thought of it and provided good service with it) but recently switched to BRS because based on Jason's info there really are only a couple of manufacturers for this type of polymer so the same polymer may be sold under different brand names.
I am pleased with the BRS stuff so far.

[Big_Pun]

a good skimmmer will benefit you in more ways than just because you have a bio p's, also the bloom that we talk about is due to excess nutrients in our estasblished system, so that being said if your starting it with a new system there will be no excess nutrients and your pellets will just slowy colonize with bacteria as your sytems matures, or you could just let the new system cycle and then add pellets and add a lil at time. the "bloom" is just a white milky cloud looks nasty but didnt hurt anything. iam very happy with my next reef reactor and warner marine pellets, will be adding same setup to girlfriends FOWLR.

[txg8gxp]

I agree with the above statements, in a new or low nutrient system I would add then all at once. I added 500ml to my 60-70g system all at once and only had a bloom that lasted for about 48 hours, but I didn't have excess nutrients built up in my tank. I'm running the nextreef smr1 xl w/NP biopellets and a mag3.

[ErikH]

1/4 at a time should ensure no bloom. My bloom was only overnight.

[ramsey]

Thanks for all the info guys. I think I'll stick with my current skimmer since it is a good skimmer just a hair small for my tank. If I need something bigger, I'll get one. Also, I think I'll work my way up with the amount. Since I have existing livestock and such, even with a new tank, I'll have some built up nutrients.

[FireWater]

If you don't mind me tagging along, I have some of the same questions as you. One other question I have is about the Ph swings involved with running the pellets. Does this subside or is it continuing? I really like to keep my set ups simple and running a bio pellet reactor doesn't seem viable if I have to run other reactors to dose to keep up with swings.

[Big_Pun]

I never had a ph swing. what you are talking about is people who do not plumb the reactor as close to skimmer pump as possible, by doing so you don't have to worry about ph crash

here's how I have mine http://tapa.tk/mu/6330e6e5-6f77-bb8f.jpg

[txg8gxp]

Agreed, You may have a small pH drop when running biopellets...but if you have pH swings something is wrong.

I never had a ph swing. what you are talking about is people who do not plumb the reactor as close to skimmer pump as possible, by doing so you don't have to worry about ph crash

[Europhyllia]

I disagree on it being a plumbing issue ;)

My pellet reactor output goes right into skimmer input. My pH is on the low side. Always. It doesn't swing much. I believe I have more CO2 production from the pellets than other people because I feed more. Easy as that. You feed your cows more hay they poop more. No magic there.

Better aeration helps a lot. My new spray skimmer can balance it much more than the needlewheel could.

[Europhyllia]

to clarify:
I agree that the reactor output should be close to the skimmer input. What I disagree with is that this 'cures' the pH drop. IMO the pH drop is due to the byproduct of the carbon metabolism (CO2) so the more nutrients are converted, the more CO2 is added to the water, the lower pH will be.

[ramsey]

That's also good to know. I really hope my skimmer can handle it. :/

[FireWater]

Thanks for the input. I am trying to read and study all I can - I always do before I try something new. The method appears valid, I just worry about causing additional problems by trying to take an easier way out.

[ErikH]

It's easy! I didn't have any drop in PH.

[alton]

It's easy! I didn't have any drop in PH.

Thats because you have those two 200 hp evenrudes in your tank