Do you run bio pellets ?...what brand reactor ?...what brand pellets?

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

Do you run bio pellets ?...what brand reactor ?...what brand pellets?...reactor with its own pump or hooked into the system pump. Via a manifold ? ..what other reactors do yu run  off the same manifold  ..before or after the bio pellets

 

[spyd]

Re: Question of the day

I run Vertex bio-pellets on a Vertex UF-15 reactor. It is run off my return pump via a manifold. I also have my BRS Dual Reactor plumbed off the manifold. I have yet to run it though. I am trying solely the bio-pellets right now and then will run the dual reactor if I start seeing any signs of PO4 in the water. Just trying to see if there is a difference running 1 or both reactors in terms of water quality for my own experience. The bio-pellets are plumbed in after the dual reactor... Not that it would really matter much which is plumbed in ahead of the other.

If you do run your reactors off a manifold, just be sure to install 2 ball valves before each reactor. 1 that is set to the exact amount of flow you want and 1 that is fully open. This way, you can take it right offline without having to fiddle with trying to get the right amount of flow again.

 

[pulpfiction1]

Re: Question of the day

Vertex bio-pellets on a Vertex UF-20 reactor,if i start to get any increase in p04 i will add more pellets

 

[xxmurrxx]

Question of the day

Do you guys have (or able to run) a fugue while running the pellets?

 

[Darryl_V]

Re: Question of the day

Vertex bio-pellets on a Vertex UF-20 reactor,if i start to get any increase in p04 i will add more pellets

The bacteria need NO3 and PO4 so the bacteria may be nitrate limited before the PO4 is low enough.  Personally I find that I need to run a small amount of GFO along with my bio-pellets.  I run 1cup of GFO  and change it out every month.  I stopped for quite a while this year thinking I may not need it but my PO4 starting rising.......

Do you guys have (or able to run) a fugue while running the pellets?

I think you will find that a refugium is not needed with bio-pellets.

 

[reeffreak]

Re: Question of the day

Do you guys have (or able to run) a fugue while running the pellets?

you can run a fuge with pellets no problem .... but you most likely wont be growing cheato or any other sources of macro algeas beacuse the pellets will strip the water of what the cheato needs to grow ...... but you can put a DSB and some LR in the fuge no problems but Im not sure theres a point .

 

[jroovers]

Re: Question of the day

you can run a fuge with pellets no problem .... but you most likely wont be growing cheato or any other sources of macro algeas beacuse the pellets will strip the water of what the cheato needs to grow ...... but you can put a DSB and some LR in the fuge no problems but Im not sure theres a point .
[/quote]

I built a refuge into my system before putting pellets online, has a DSB and live rock, in my opinion definitely doesn't hurt (unless the DSB goes south at some point, but it can be swapped out).  As Darryl noted, just because you have pellets running doesn't mean you won't have phosphate issues... a quality skimmer is considered a must with running the pellets.  I'm battling nuisance algae at the moment that accumulated due to skimmer issues while still running pellets.  So I have GFO online as well.

I run BRS pellets in a TLF 150 with the yarn mesh mod at the top, but not at the bottom (the pellets tumble better this way).

 

[spyd]

Re: Question of the day

I run a remote deep sand bed along with my bio-pellets. No chaeto or anything like that. Not sure if I will keep the DSB going forever as well. I may end up taking it out and converting it to a frag tank when my corals start growing out.

 

[reeffreak]

Re: Question of the day

you can run a fuge with pellets no problem .... but you most likely wont be growing cheato or any other sources of macro algeas beacuse the pellets will strip the water of what the cheato needs to grow ...... but you can put a DSB and some LR in the fuge no problems but Im not sure theres a point .

I built a refuge into my system before putting pellets online, has a DSB and live rock, in my opinion definitely doesn't hurt (unless the DSB goes south at some point, but it can be swapped out).  As Darryl noted, just because you have pellets running doesn't mean you won't have phosphate issues... a quality skimmer is considered a must with running the pellets.  I'm battling nuisance algae at the moment that accumulated due to skimmer issues while still running pellets.  So I have GFO online as well.

I run BRS pellets in a TLF 150 with the yarn mesh mod at the top, but not at the bottom (the pellets tumble better this way).
[/quote]

Just what I said you can run a fuge with LR and DSB no problem but Im not sure theres a point really when using pellets like spyd said he is considering remving his remote DSB .  yes the output of the pellets should be as close to possible to the intake of the skimmer or you will end up with issues . Pellets also need 4-8 weeks to do there thing and colonize bacterie within the reactor . I agree that carbon and rowa or GFO should still be used in conjuctionwith pellets .

 

[jroovers]

Re: Question of the day

I may end up taking it out and converting it to a frag tank when my corals start growing out.

I've thought of doing that as well.  I hate having frags in my display as it makes it look cluttered.  My refuge is pretty small though.

 

[pulpfiction1]

Re: Question of the day

i am running approx 25% more pellets than the recommended,that along with my skimmer which easily out preforms my pellet reactor,and my tank as a whole, and i have virtually undetectable phosphates,but even on my larger tanks last winter (135 and 100 ) in a shared sump situation,heavily stocked,i had a small outbreak of hair algae that I'm sure i introduced myself,lasted 3 weeks, without a water change,i use the Hanna checkers and any phosphates that might of been present were definitely removed.i would think unless your housing lots of expensive  LPS that phosphates while running pellets would not be of any issue,but that's just my method that hasn't failed me yet since i stopped the vodka dosing,i also was unable to grow cheato and actualy had no need for it

 

[Royal Aquariums]

Re: Question of the day

I am also running pellets along with some GFO, I have found that my P04 creeps up if i dont have the GFO with the pellets. You may find that a vertex reactor does a better job than a phosban reactor for tumbling the pellets, but it is at a higher price point as well.

Vertex Reactor
http://www.royalaquariums.ca/p/505/vertex-universal-media-reactor-uf-15