GFO to Bio pelets?

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Like the title sugest, Has anyone made the transission to Bio pelets from GFO? Im looking to a cheaper solution to controling PO4. Seams that the initial cost maybe more, but the bio pelets last much much longer.

Do you run pelets exclusivly, or still run both? Thanks in advance.

[solitude127]

I run just biopellets and I have a reading of 0.00 on my hanna checker.

[DeepSeaBeauti]

This is what i was wondering, I think since I got over my GHA outbreak ive developed better habbits in controling my PO4.

How do you like using the pellets? Do you find it easyer then GFO, the same? What about tank apearence, did you notice any color difference, water clarity, ect.... Thanks for the responce.

[solitude127]

I went with pellets, not to stop GFO but to stop vodka dosing. Since going pellets (probably 11 months into it now) I haven't really noticed a big change from when I dosed vodka. At about the 7 month mark, I rinsed the pellets and replenished the amount back to the original amount.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some folks use both. I do not consider these interchangeable methods, as GFO will do nothing for nitrate, and organic carbon dosing is often inadequately effective on phosphate.

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Thanks Randy, now im back to where i started. ha. There was a time for a while when i was doseing vodka, it made huge improvements in my tank. I have not seen a big need for it in some time. Seams that after my fuge was finaly well established my tank has become a bit more self suficiant, and my soft corals and coraline algae have been doing so well.

Do you see organic carbon sources as a needed part of the aquarium? Or somthing that can be avoided with normal water change practices?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't think it is "needed", but I do think it can be useful.

I use it in my system, where I use vinegar dosing, GFO, GAC, skimming, and macroalgae growth to reduce nutrients.

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Great, so it sounds like im on the right track. I run GAC in a modified canister filter along with GFO. My skimmer is a work horse and pulls and unbeliveable amount of crud from the water. And around the same time i stoped vodka doseing i added a large ball of cheato to my fuge. I think i will spend the money on new bulbs in place of a biopellet reactor. Thanks for the reassurance!

[sporto0]

Originally Posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

Some folks use both. I do not consider these interchangeable methods, as GFO will do nothing for nitrate, and organic carbon dosing is often inadequately effective on phosphate.

Randy's really smart, often he makes my brain hurt! LOL you won't go wrong with his advice.

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Thanks sporto0

[thebanker]

Originally Posted by DeepSeaBeauti

Like the title sugest, Has anyone made the transission to Bio pelets from GFO? Im looking to a cheaper solution to controling PO4. Seams that the initial cost maybe more, but the bio pelets last much much longer.

Do you run pelets exclusivly, or still run both? Thanks in advance.

I found that pellets alone did not do the trick, I also need GFO to reduce PO4 to acceptable levels. I found this out the hard way when algae appeared and coral began turning brown. I'm certainly not the only one with this experience, most of the bio pellet threads will validate my story.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think that is generally true of organic carbon dosing in general, which for well known reasons (hypoxic processing of nitrate into N2) drops nitrate more than phosphate.