Bio Pellets??? WHAT??

[Bfofre]

I'd like to start a discussion about Biopellets...
Can someone educate me??  Do i need them??  Never heard of them before....  Weren't around in 2006 with my last reef, but neither was GFO.

If you aren't aware from my other posts...
I am running 90 gal Mixed reef, with 110 gals total volume
6 bulb t5 lighting
Sump containing my Euroreef 5-3 skimmer, Individual BRS reactors with Carbon & GFO.
About 120lbs rock, 70 of it started as dry...

How do you run them?? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?
Are they worth it??  Why didn't they exist in 2006, and there were plenty of successful reef tanks then...

Please discuss.... Help me see the way... 

 

[Pistol]

They are a solid form of carbon dosing, beneficial bacteria grow on and consume them inside a reactor providing export of N & P, but like other forms of carbon dosing it works better at N so usually still need GFO for P. Good skimmer is a must.

 

[Salty Cracker]

There are a few threads on here debating the benefits/use of pellets and other sources.  I use them myself and think they are fantastic.

 

[pulpfiction1]

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[Bfofre]

So I have gfo and carbon in 2 different BRS reactors now...  Could I ditch the carbon?    Just a thought..

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[Salty Cracker]

You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

 

[Bfofre]

Ok..  I don't have additional outputs on my manifold...  So I'll have to consider a stand alone pump

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[unibob]

Have you looked into Nitra Guard Cubes?

 

[Bfofre]

Have you looked into Nitra Guard Cubes?

Say what?  Don't even know anything about biopellet,  now you're going fancy on me!

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[monizb]

Gfo that's all u need don't need pellets ect u can run carbon on and off carbon is no good after week or two any ways turns solid 


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[monizb]

And your self a good skimmer and your fine


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[Bfofre]

I have euroreef 5-3.. Might be a little undersized..  But it's definitely a good Skimmer..  In 2006, they were considered the best..

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[spyd]

Biopellets are used for ULtra Low Nutrient Systems (ULNS). They will greatly reduce your nitrates and will lower your phosphates a little but not much. People run them primarily on SPS tanks that thrive in very clean systems. If you are doing more LPS, softies, etc then I would not suggest them at all or you will have to feed more to keep your lps happy. Basically, the pellets house bacteria that feeds off nitrates, etc. the bacteria gets knocked off from the tumble motion in the reactor and then is removed from your skimmer.

 

[curiousphil]

You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

You could also just run carbon in a sock/bag passively in a high flow area of your sump.  Supposedly it works just as well this way:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/


Nothing to add to the biopellets discussion.  The posts above me have already covered their benefits quite well.

 

[Reef Hero]

[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=8241.msg87406#msg87406 date=1395869799]
You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

You could also just run carbon in a sock/bag passively in a high flow area of your sump.  Supposedly it works just as well this way:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/


Nothing to add to the biopellets discussion.  The posts above me have already covered their benefits quite well.
[/quote]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with how running carbon without tumbling is just as good as running it with tumbling.... A reefer I hold on high regard swears by using rox carbon and tumbling it as much as possible.... He believes that the use of carbon is very much needed.... Possibly just as much as GFO.... And when you see his amazing collection it is hard to argue with him....

 

[curiousphil]

[quote author=curiousphil link=topic=8241.msg87468#msg87468 date=1395927729]
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=8241.msg87406#msg87406 date=1395869799]
You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

You could also just run carbon in a sock/bag passively in a high flow area of your sump.  Supposedly it works just as well this way:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/


Nothing to add to the biopellets discussion.  The posts above me have already covered their benefits quite well.
[/quote]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with how running carbon without tumbling is just as good as running it with tumbling.... A reefer I hold on high regard swears by using rox carbon and tumbling it as much as possible.... He believes that the use of carbon is very much needed.... Possibly just as much as GFO.... And when you see his amazing collection it is hard to argue with him....
[/quote]

Tumbling it??  I thought that even when it's used in a reactor you are supposed to have it pressed tightly so that water just flows through it but doesn't tumble it.  It was my understanding that tumbling will break it up.  Do you literally mean he tumbles it as much as possible - or that he just pumps a shitload of water through it?  Just curious is all.

 

[Bfofre]

[quote author=Reef Hero link=topic=8241.msg87471#msg87471 date=1395928290]
[quote author=curiousphil link=topic=8241.msg87468#msg87468 date=1395927729]
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=8241.msg87406#msg87406 date=1395869799]
You could, but you wouldn't be able to just stop the pellet reactor and run carbon again, so it's sort of best to have a 3rd reactor. 

You could also just run carbon in a sock/bag passively in a high flow area of your sump.  Supposedly it works just as well this way:
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/does-a-reef-tank-need-carbon/


Nothing to add to the biopellets discussion.  The posts above me have already covered their benefits quite well.
[/quote]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with how running carbon without tumbling is just as good as running it with tumbling.... A reefer I hold on high regard swears by using rox carbon and tumbling it as much as possible.... He believes that the use of carbon is very much needed.... Possibly just as much as GFO.... And when you see his amazing collection it is hard to argue with him....
[/quote]

Tumbling it??  I thought that even when it's used in a reactor you are supposed to have it pressed tightly so that water just flows through it but doesn't tumble it.  It was my understanding that tumbling will break it up.  Do you literally mean he tumbles it as much as possible - or that he just pumps a shitload of water through it?  Just curious is all.
[/quote]


I'm curious also....I have mine contained between 2 sponges in the BRS reactor..
Doesn't tumble at all.

 

[Salty Cracker]

My carbon tumbles all the time. 
I've heard that carbon dust can lead to hole-in-the-head disease in tangs, but I haven't had that either.  I have the output of the carbon go into the GFO reactor, then the output of the GFO has a mesh sock on it. 

Honestly, I just couldn't get it to stop tumbling.  Seems to work so I leave it. 

 

[Bfofre]

My carbon tumbles all the time. 
I've heard that carbon dust can lead to hole-in-the-head disease in tangs, but I haven't had that either.  I have the output of the carbon go into the GFO reactor, then the output of the GFO has a mesh sock on it. 

Honestly, I just couldn't get it to stop tumbling.  Seems to work so I leave it.

Picture of your setup please....

 

[Bfofre]

From everything i've read.... And even the BRS vids... Carbon isn't supposed to tumble.
It will break up and get released into your sump or DT