Biopellet quantity

DrBegalke · 11/23/2011, 09:37 AM

I am thinking of experimenting with a biopellet reactor on a 125g with a relatively high bioload.

I have read different recommendations for the quantity of biopellets per gallon...

Those of you who use biopellets, think a 500mL reactor would be enough?

joemelo · 11/23/2011, 10:21 AM

i use 250ml/50 gallons

jayg4u · 11/23/2011, 12:43 PM

Find out what the manufacture recommends and start with half that amount...then add and extra amount in the next few months. You just dont want to start off with too much, cause i could reck your tank.

bertoni · 11/23/2011, 03:43 PM

I agree with starting with a small amount, and working up. 500 ml should be a lot of pellets, IMO.

DrBegalke · 11/30/2011, 06:02 PM

Sound good. Thanks for the input.

bertoni · 11/30/2011, 10:14 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

DrBegalke · 11/30/2011, 10:20 PM

This may be a case of the enemy of good is better... Right now my phosphate and nitrate are both 0, no nuisance growth. But I would like to experiment with the biopellets and maybe get to the point where I can eliminate the GFO reactor...

skunkmere · 12/01/2011, 12:32 AM

i think you are going to needs some nitrate and phosphate to get the bacteria going.

dan-in-gr · 12/01/2011, 08:57 AM

Hi, I use bio pellets on my 90, and just switched over to my 120 today, the new bio pellets show up from BRS today. I will be using 500ml and all of them will go into reactor at one time, some people feel you have to slowly add them, but my experience shows little difference/effect. It will take 45 days for them to be fully effective, you will start noticing lower nitrates in three weeks and less algea on glass.

2k3sgm · 12/01/2011, 02:29 PM

In the spirit of the original post. Is there an advantage or disadvantage to running Biopellets with a refuge?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 12/01/2011, 03:25 PM

Not sure exactly what you mean, but IMO it is a good idea to use several nutrient export methods at once.

2k3sgm · 12/01/2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

Not sure exactly what you mean, but IMO it is a good idea to use several nutrient export methods at once.

I guess it was kinda vague. What I mean is does one negate the need for the other?

bertoni · 12/01/2011, 06:25 PM

Maybe. Our tanks are fairly complicated systems, so it's hard to predict how much the various export mechanisms compete and how much they might complement each other. Some people seem to lose their macroalgae when running bio-pellets and some don't, for example.

Reefnut2010 · 12/01/2011, 10:24 PM

Your nutrient levels should give you an idea of what your system needs. Most systems with high bio loads and/or high nutrient loads benefit from multiple nutrient export mechanisms. Mine for example has a small fuge (10g or so). I also run aprox 3.5 cups of bio pellets and have recently started dosing ozone via a 03 reactor at a rate of 50 mg/hr for 2 hrs a day ( a bit controversial, being that I run bio pellets). System is 125g/35g sump. Aprox water volume 100-110g.

Like others have said start with about 1 cup of bio pellets and work from there. IMHO no Reef should be without a fuge !!

11/23/2011, 09:37 AM	#1
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	Biopellet quantity I am thinking of experimenting with a biopellet reactor on a 125g with a relatively high bioload. I have read different recommendations for the quantity of biopellets per gallon... Those of you who use biopellets, think a 500mL reactor would be enough? __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

11/23/2011, 10:21 AM	#2
joemelo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 229	i use 250ml/50 gallons __________________ I have no vampire experience, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got there, it had turned back into my neighbour's dog. Current Tank Info: 250 gallon display (60x36x27) 70g sump, AI SOL BLUE, N/P biopellets, GAC, Skimz sm201 skimmer

11/23/2011, 03:43 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree with starting with a small amount, and working up. 500 ml should be a lot of pellets, IMO. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/30/2011, 06:02 PM	#5
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	Sound good. Thanks for the input. __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

11/30/2011, 10:14 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/23/2011, 12:43 PM	#3
jayg4u Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 64	Find out what the manufacture recommends and start with half that amount...then add and extra amount in the next few months. You just dont want to start off with too much, cause i could reck your tank.

11/30/2011, 10:20 PM	#7
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	This may be a case of the enemy of good is better... Right now my phosphate and nitrate are both 0, no nuisance growth. But I would like to experiment with the biopellets and maybe get to the point where I can eliminate the GFO reactor... __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

12/01/2011, 12:32 AM	#8
skunkmere Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 6,434	i think you are going to needs some nitrate and phosphate to get the bacteria going.

12/01/2011, 08:57 AM	#9
dan-in-gr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 385	Hi, I use bio pellets on my 90, and just switched over to my 120 today, the new bio pellets show up from BRS today. I will be using 500ml and all of them will go into reactor at one time, some people feel you have to slowly add them, but my experience shows little difference/effect. It will take 45 days for them to be fully effective, you will start noticing lower nitrates in three weeks and less algea on glass.

12/01/2011, 02:29 PM	#10
2k3sgm Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 42	In the spirit of the original post. Is there an advantage or disadvantage to running Biopellets with a refuge?

12/01/2011, 03:25 PM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Not sure exactly what you mean, but IMO it is a good idea to use several nutrient export methods at once. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

12/01/2011, 06:25 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Maybe. Our tanks are fairly complicated systems, so it's hard to predict how much the various export mechanisms compete and how much they might complement each other. Some people seem to lose their macroalgae when running bio-pellets and some don't, for example. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2011, 10:24 PM	#14
Reefnut2010 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Gabriel Valley, Ca Posts: 427	Your nutrient levels should give you an idea of what your system needs. Most systems with high bio loads and/or high nutrient loads benefit from multiple nutrient export mechanisms. Mine for example has a small fuge (10g or so). I also run aprox 3.5 cups of bio pellets and have recently started dosing ozone via a 03 reactor at a rate of 50 mg/hr for 2 hrs a day ( a bit controversial, being that I run bio pellets). System is 125g/35g sump. Aprox water volume 100-110g. Like others have said start with about 1 cup of bio pellets and work from there. IMHO no Reef should be without a fuge !!

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