N/P reducing pellets (solid vodka dosing)

[daveonbass]

I started with 160 NO3...and yes...all test kits came up around the same numbers. NO3 only came down from massive WC. Not the pellets. There is too much of a debate between people as to weather or not NO3 even does "leach" from rocks, or if it's JUST in the water column. So I'm not going to assume anything there. I just want my "water" to not register so much NO3, as in I don't want it to go up to 80-160ppm again. That was annoying.

I admit that now things seem ok. But why didn't the pellets ever help in the first place...thats what bugs me. Like I said the only real test I can think of now is to take them offline and see if the NO3 goes up. If not then the pellets never worked for me. If so then they were keeping them steady. But my guess is that the NO3 will stay the same.

I do not run any GFO, I have never been able to get PO4 to register on the test kits. So I haven't gotten into GFO yet.

[NaClCrocodile]

Have you cleaned your sand bed? I know my NO3 consistently stayed at ~50ppm before I started vacuuming the sand. I'm still reading up on the NP Biopellets, so this may not be the issue at all.

[daveonbass]

no, but that's cause I don't have a way to clean the sand bed without "removing" the sand bed, nor do I want to lose all the life in the sand bed. And none of that changes the point...that the pellets so far haven't started working after 4 months. Even if NO3 were coming from somewhere cryptic...the pellets should have started to help control that. Not once have they ever lowered my levels...so I fear that they still have not "turned on."

[NaClCrocodile]

Yeah, I just read a few pages back. That's odd and it seems like it's an isolated incident but I really don't have any experience with these pellets.

[daveonbass]

well, I've decided to try them in my QT. I moved the aquaC remora skimmer and put it back on the QT. And as for the pellets...simply put them in a "the bag" and I have the overflow drain into and through the bag. The effluent is not directed to the skimmer..so this should be fun. The skimmer is in the overflow box. This is a simple set up. Very simple. And I'll get starting levels in my next post...i gotta put my phone down. :P

the tank is covered in algae...and I almost never do WC's in it.

[daveonbass]

WOW! New tanks starting params.

NO3 160ppm
PO4 0ppm (undetectable per 3+" different test kits)

both tanks are given similar care as for feeding and cleaning glass. New tank has no sand bed, and only a little rock in the DT. Both have been set up for over a year at least. New tank has only fish, no corals. Only major difference is the size and lack of WC's.

[Genetics]

Do you have ammonia in your tank? Those nitrate levels seem on the high side and I believe that ammonia greatly influences nitrate test kits.

[daveonbass]

hmmm. Let me see if I can check that.

[daveonbass]

nope, zero on both ammonia and nitrite. Only my nitrates are coming up. So my cycle is working. Again this tank has no sand...so there are no nitrates locked up in there. And not enough rock, which has long been cured, to be the source of the high NO3. There are 4 fish, 2 banggai and 2 clowns. Just them and food. Same food used in other tank.

[sirreal63]

Dave...have you tested your tap water to see if it has high nitrates? I would also test after the ro/di, those figures are just unreal.

[daveonbass]

it's been a while since I tested tap water. Back when I had a 75g planted tank I had yo ADD nitrate to the water...it wasn't high at all so my plants were starving. But tap water never touches my SW tanks. All top off water and mixed salt water is done with ro/di and always tests 0 for NO3.

it's just my fish...and their uneaten food.

[bertoni]

Nitrate can't leach from live rock the way that phosphate can. Nitrate won't fit into the calcium carbonate matrix. Nitrate could be produced from debris in the live rock, but that's not very likely to be the main issue if the tank has been running for a while.

[daveonbass]

none of my nittate issues are the point of this thread. ;P the problem HERE is that the BP have not ever started working for some reason...and thus my nirates have yet to come down from their use.

[TreyK]

I'm hoping someone who read this thread from the beginning will chime in on this and help me out. I am using bp in an smr1 on my 40b and all was well until a few days ago, the water clouded up, some of my acros closed up and I'm losing my echinata I think. Some acros are fine with it and all else is in check. I heard it could be related to the pellets. I just turned off the reactor to see if it clears up. Hopefully someone can help me out with this.

[daveonbass]

sounds like a normal bacteria bloom...means it's working. Your skimmer should be working overtime to clear it all up. If things are not better in a week I'd be worried.

[TreyK]

Well it's to the point that I'm pretty worried..

[stevedola]

had the same issue in one of my tanks. took the top off the tank, added a fan to blow over sump, and added an air stone...all to help raise the Ph which is prolly what is dipping due to the added bacteria dropping the O2 levels.

[daveonbass]

make sure the skimmer is working well to try to ounter the O2 depletion.

[bertoni]

I agree that keeping the skimmer in good shape is important. You could buy or borrow a UV filter or a diatom filter, if you're very worried. They might be able to help a fair amount. The diatom filter is very good in that it might be able to remove the bacteria entirely. The UV is easier to use, though, and probably would be just as good. I'm not sure how bad the situation is, so I can't say whether either is worthwhile.

[kernnell]

Hi,

it took me 2 days to read all 80 pages , but it was worth it, thank you all for sharing your experience.

i started biopellets 7 days ago, first with 250ml and then added another 250ml, 500ml total.


on the first day, my nitrates measured 50

after 7 day they are exactly the same.

i have a friend that also started using them, and he had a bacterial bloom on the second day, his nitrates lowered considerably and the water is now crystal clear.

today, i removed the fluidized filter and washed the pellets in aquarium wather for about 5 minutes.
i have done this because some of you got them working after hashing.

also, from what i have read, this stuff doesn't work if you don't get that initial bloom of bateria.
Please correct me if im wrong.

My reactor is just a glass jar with a pvc tube inside, as you can see in the video

[kernnell]

Originally Posted by TreyK

I'm hoping someone who read this thread from the beginning will chime in on this and help me out. I am using bp in an smr1 on my 40b and all was well until a few days ago, the water clouded up, some of my acros closed up and I'm losing my echinata I think. Some acros are fine with it and all else is in check. I heard it could be related to the pellets. I just turned off the reactor to see if it clears up. Hopefully someone can help me out with this.

how long have you been using the pellets?

[Costazul]

Humm! Looks like nice jar set up. Good ideas are working in my brain now LOL!.

Well, I have setting up a new bio pellet 2 days ago, nothing new to report for the moment...My tank is 125g SPS dominated. I will report back any interesting event.

[daveonbass]

I WOULD say you are correct. If there is no bacteria bloom, then they tend ti not work as fast, or ever. Keep us posted.

[stevedola]

i would disagree, i have 2 seperate tanks running Nps and 1 had a bloom while the other didnt. Both have under 5ppm trates now. I will admit the tank that had a bloom had a much higher concentration of nitrates and a serious HA problem while the other tank was hovering around 10ppm trates. Both tanks have shown positive results from the introduction of Nps.

[daveonbass]

lucky you... :P
hehe