Warner Marine Now Has A Pellet Product

[poolkeeper1]

Originally Posted by Buganddoug

You may need to clean you pump. If you are new at using Pellets they may get clumped up from heavy Bacteria that might be in your water.
Clean your pump or shake the pellets to get them moving again.
If you use sponge in you reactor pull it out that can get clogged also.

I have been using them B4 they came out to the general public, Very successfully i may add. My Pump is a Manifold and i do not run any sponges i use the MR1 reactor and they were fine until i added some new Marco (Dead) Rock to my tank. My thoughts were maybe a bacteria spike that has caused this to happen. Maybe if Jon Warner see's this he will comment what he thinks may have caused this clumping as it has not loosened up in over three day's now. It may be nothing but i would rather be sure of what is happening.
Thanks for your input but that is not the case here.
Bill

[drummereef]

Originally Posted by poolkeeper1

Brett, Any thoughts on why the EB clumped up like it has??
Bill

Hey Bill, I had a strange bacterial bloom 1.5 months after starting up my tank. Again, my tank was 100% dry Marco Rock (key largo). The bloom wasn't the stereotypical "white out" type of bloom that people see sometimes with pellets etc, it was more of a clear slime that mostly coagulated in the return section of the sump, but there was a little on the rocks in the display as well. This happened 2 months before I started using ecoBAK for reference. The bloom lasted 48 hours and then completely disappeared. I believe the Marco Rock initiated this bloom in my system. My guess is it's just a reaction of the new Marco Rock you added and should subside in time. Probably just bacteria needing a place to go and the easy place to hide is in the pellets.


Here's a pic of that bloom from my system on 6-16-2010

[poolkeeper1]

Thanks Brett, Jon Warner has answered my questions and thinks like it is from a bacterial spike from adding the rock and will subside in a few day's.
Bill

[drummereef]

Originally Posted by poolkeeper1

Thanks Brett, Jon Warner has answered my questions and thinks like it is from a bacterial spike from adding the rock and will subside in a few day's.
Bill

Bingo! I thought that's what it probably was.

[falconut]

Originally Posted by drummereef

Great news falconut! What size system are you running the ecoBAK on?

I've got a 6 year old 90 gallon with two 20 gallon tanks, one is a refuge and the other is a true sump w/heater, skimmer, etc.

I've got a medium bioload and I feed a cube frozen mysis/brine + a little flake or pellets every day, sometimes twice a day.

[Tony Romano]

Anyone running pellets for 3 ++ months notice PO4 going up?

[poolkeeper1]

3+ months is still on the new side of colonizing the pellets IMO And It is possible that could be happening. If so add a little GFO to reduce it and then remove it and let the pellets take over when they are ready.
Bill

[drummereef]

^^ Agree with Bill. At first you might have to reduce PO4 with GFO and then once your levels are where you want them, let the pellets maintain.

[Tony Romano]

I am using PO4 removing media. I think with heavy feeding the balance NO3/PO4 gets out of wack. I guess bottom line is testing a time or two a week is needed for me to zero in on what is going on in tank. I get lazy with testing at times, not good in thishobby!

[drummereef]

I need to clean my Nextreef SMR1 Pellet Reactor. What is the proper procedure to remove the ecoBAK pellets temporarily so I can clean the reactor. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes total.

I'm assuming I should put the pellets in a container of tank water, like during a water change. Do I need to put a powerhead in there to keep them circulating or anything or will whey be fine sitting for 15 minutes?

Just trying to avoid killing the bacteria population.

[josh_tn]

Here is an exerpt from our local forum talking about this same issue due to some power outages in our area. I think it might be along the lines of what you are asking about. This is input from Jon Warner about the Ecobak pellets. For a short time like 15 minutes, doesn't sound like there will be any problems whatsoever. Hope this helps.

Sorry I've had so many posts, but I just found out straight from Jon Warner about the time limit. And I'll quote:

"Hello a very long pause will lead to stagnation in the reactor and lots of nasties. However... that'd take days. I'd say anything under 8 hours is not a problem, longer than that just rinse the media in saltwater and restart them."

This came from Jon on a different forum. If you Google that quote, I'm sure it will come up.

So 8 hours looks like the number to watch for. Not too bad.

[reefkt]

Originally Posted by drummereef

I need to clean my Nextreef SMR1 Pellet Reactor. What is the proper procedure to remove the ecoBAK pellets temporarily so I can clean the reactor. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes total.

I'm assuming I should put the pellets in a container of tank water, like during a water change. Do I need to put a powerhead in there to keep them circulating or anything or will whey be fine sitting for 15 minutes?

Just trying to avoid killing the bacteria population.

I don't think 15 minutes will kill the bacteria, as long as you keep pellets with tank water. What I do for couple occasions is just dump whole reactor's contents (water and bio-pellets) in a container, rinse the pellets use the water in container, then rinse again use some tank water, then put it back. It take me less than 10 minutes.

[gary faulkner]

Just started running pellets last night. Starting slow with about 1/4 recommended amount. Also dosing MB 7 along with Special Blend. Been dosing the bacteria for two weeks now. NO3 @ 10, PO4 @ .10. Will keep you updated on my results.

The pellets seem very sticky and want to clump together. Having to shake the reactor occasionally to keep them from clumping or all rising to the top.

[poolkeeper1]

Originally Posted by gary faulkner

Just started running pellets last night. Starting slow with about 1/4 recommended amount. Also dosing MB 7 along with Special Blend. Been dosing the bacteria for two weeks now. NO3 @ 10, PO4 @ .10. Will keep you updated on my results.

The pellets seem very sticky and want to clump together. Having to shake the reactor occasionally to keep them from clumping or all rising to the top.

I had the same Issue when I started them and It caused no problems, Actually mine are all clumped together from a Bacterial Bloom from adding some Dry Marco rock to my system. Jon Said they will Loosen up again over time not to worry about it. As long as you have flow throught the reactor you will be fine.
Bill

[gary faulkner]

Thanks Bill. I do have an issue though, my pellets are escaping. Guess I'm gonna have to talk to the warden about this = ) or else just fix my strainer plate.

[poolkeeper1]

Originally Posted by gary faulkner

Thanks Bill. I do have an issue though, my pellets are escaping. Guess I'm gonna have to talk to the warden about this = ) or else just fix my strainer plate.

Yeah, The Stock plates have to be covered with the Needle point mesh and that problem will go away.
Bill

[drummereef]

Originally Posted by josh_tn

Here is an exerpt from our local forum talking about this same issue due to some power outages in our area. I think it might be along the lines of what you are asking about. This is input from Jon Warner about the Ecobak pellets. For a short time like 15 minutes, doesn't sound like there will be any problems whatsoever. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by reefkt

I don't think 15 minutes will kill the bacteria, as long as you keep pellets with tank water. What I do for couple occasions is just dump whole reactor's contents (water and bio-pellets) in a container, rinse the pellets use the water in container, then rinse again use some tank water, then put it back. It take me less than 10 minutes.

Thanks guys!

[hunkafish]

With all this clumping, has anyone developed a stiring reactor? like they do for Kalkwasser, this may be the answer to creating a self sustaining tumbling when your not looking. I cant watch my tank 24/7 and shake my reactor as needed. Maybe the next generation of reactorswill have a stiring mechinisim. maybe a spyrial wire turning,Kalk stirrers are straight, a spyrile should do the trick.

[poolkeeper1]

Actually them tumbling is not necessary as long as they have at least 100 gph flow going through them, That was stated by Jon Warner Himself i believe. But correct me if I'm wrong.
Bill

[jnc914]

Originally Posted by hunkafish

With all this clumping, has anyone developed a stiring reactor? like they do for Kalkwasser, this may be the answer to creating a self sustaining tumbling when your not looking. I cant watch my tank 24/7 and shake my reactor as needed. Maybe the next generation of reactorswill have a stiring mechinisim. maybe a spyrial wire turning,Kalk stirrers are straight, a spyrile should do the trick.

Dont worry too much about clumping. I had that during the initial stage, usually within the first 3-4 weeks. Once the pellets are colonized with bacteria, the clumping diminishes. The one thing that I did notice is that once the bacteria takes over the pellets, I have had a rapid descrease in pellet volume as the bacteria is eating away at them.The level went down almost a half inch since I started over 2 months ago. I have zero readins on PO4 and nitrates. Good product and I am happy with them overall.

[Stuart60611]

Originally Posted by jnc914

The one thing that I did notice is that once the bacteria takes over the pellets, I have had a rapid descrease in pellet volume as the bacteria is eating away at them.The level went down almost a half inch since I started over 2 months ago.

I am noticing the same thing. I have been using the pellets now for at least 6 months and lately I have noticed that the pellets seem to be dissolving pretty fast. I just added about 1/2 liter several months ago, and the entire 1/2 liter seems to be dissolved. I am thinking of adding some denitrate media to mix in with the pellets. I know others have tried something similar with mixing in gravel. Anybody have any experience mixing in other media with ecobak?

[taklein65]

Originally Posted by hunkafish

With all this clumping, has anyone developed a stiring reactor? like they do for Kalkwasser, this may be the answer to creating a self sustaining tumbling when your not looking. I cant watch my tank 24/7 and shake my reactor as needed. Maybe the next generation of reactorswill have a stiring mechanism. maybe a spyrial wire turning,Kalk stirrers are straight, a spyrile should do the trick.

This maybe what your loking for http://************.com/2011/02/23/j...llet-reactors/.

Tim

[gary faulkner]

Originally Posted by poolkeeper1

Actually them tumbling is not necessary as long as they have at least 100 gph flow going through them, That was stated by Jon Warner Himself i believe. But correct me if I'm wrong.
Bill

You are correct!

By the way, my pellets stopped clumping already and it has only been less than 3 days. I have them slowing moving around. No need for tumbling as long as all the pellets have some movement and even if they clump occasionally no problem says the manufacturer.

HTH

[poolkeeper1]

Jon Warner, If you read this message Please Contact me.
Thanks in advance
Bill

[fastrd400]

I just started running Warner Marine Pellets this evening. I have them in a Nextreef MR1 that is daisey chained to a Phosban reactor running carbon. My supply pump is a Maxi-Jet 1200. I have no tumbling at all in the reactor with the BP. Is this okay? I tried the reactor not connected to the carbon and had minimal tumbling. The reason I am running this set up is when Jon Warner was in the Bay Area last year, promotong the product, this was the way he had said to run the pellets. I could just as easily run each reactor seperately I suppose as well.

My biggest questions are:
Should I worry about anything with the 2 reactors running the way they are, or should I run them seperately?

Should I stress about the fact that the BP are not tumbling as currently set up?