Biopellet Brand/Method of Choice

SkullV

SkullV

New member
Looking to see what kind of biopellets you run in your reef tank, what type of reactor you use, why type of pump drives your reactor, and WHY you chose that brand of biopellets over any other. Please try and be specific in your answer i.e. organic makeup of the biopellet, length of time before needing to add more biopellets, flow rate/tumble rate, screen size inside reactor, time for nitrate/phosphate drop, etc.

If you had a bad experience with biopellets feel free to share that too but please include the info from above and details about your experience.

Thanks!
 
I use brs pellets in a tlf 150 that has been modded. It is powered by an mj 1200. I also run another reactor with phoslock in line off of the same mj. I get a good tumble and it would be even faster if I hadn't daisy chained the reactors. I've been running pellets for about 8 months and I really like what it has done for my tank. I probably run about half of the recommended amount. It has pretty much been "set it and forget it." The pellets don't really seem to wear down much so there really isn't much of an expense.
 
If you are really going BP, then go with this one as you will have a better control vs it completely cleaning your water and having to go crazy with heavy feedings and chemicals to help balance.

http://www.marinedepot.com/CAD_Ligh..._Reactors-CAD_Lights-3X50299-FIFRISBP-vi.html

You will have better control on how much you want to clean and keep levels in check.

My BP experience was not so great But would rather leave it behind and help others make a better choice!!! Was using BRS BP brand.. Used TLF and this Hydra reactor. Which I really liked and was easy to replace BP when needed.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Hydra_Aq...ctors-Hydra_Aquatics-AZ21465-FIFRISBP-vi.html


A short video of my 75gal using reactor above.. : (

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJaGrLoFHvg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
 
Last edited:
I use......

Two Little Fishies NPX Bioplastics
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+8057+23764&pcatid=23764

AquaMaxx BioMaxx XL Biopellet
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...let_Reactors-AquaMaxx-UJ5111-FIFRISBP-vi.html

I been using biopellets for about 3 months so far and nothing bad a has happen. I use my return pump (DC10000) to run my biopellet reactor. I chose Two Little Fishies Biopellets because of the low price. Right now I have 1L of biopellets in the reactor.
 
Last edited:
adam87 said:
I use......

Two Little Fishies NPX Bioplastics
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+8057+23764&pcatid=23764

AquaMaxx BioMaxx XL Biopellet
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...let_Reactors-AquaMaxx-UJ5111-FIFRISBP-vi.html

I been using biopellets for about 3 months so far and nothing bad a has happen. I use my return pump (DC10000) to run my biopellet reactor. I chose Two Little Fishies Biopellets because of the low price. Right now I have 1L of biopellets in the reactor.
Click to expand...


Adam, how big is your tank? I'm probably only running about 2-3 cups on my 220 with 75 gal sump. Nitrates are almost undetectable. I still have higher than desirable po4. I might add a little more to the reactor, but probably not a lot. I have big fish and was never able to get nitrates down until pellets. I guess the mission is accomplished.
 
Thanks for the info guys, keep it coming!

I actually used BP in my 75g SPS reef and had phenomenal results (not a spec of algae, amazing SPS color/growth, etc.). I used the recommended amount of TLF pellets (added 1/2 at a time over 2 months) in a modded TLF reactor that was running in line with a carbon reactor and bypass T from my Eheim 1262 return. I tumbled the CRAP out of them, like really really rough to get a similar "only the strong survive" effect as K1. I was also using a skimmer designed for twice my tank volume on the low end up to over 3x my volume (Bubble Magus NAC8 w/Swabbie).

I really believe the reason people have bad experiences is that they either add the pellets to the system too quickly or run a skimmer that is not oversized enough/just a crappy skimmer. I'm planning on adding a little CPR nano-tumblr to my current system with like a tablespoon of pellets. Please keep the experiences coming!
 
Sawdonkey said:
Adam, how big is your tank? I'm probably only running about 2-3 cups on my 220 with 75 gal sump. Nitrates are almost undetectable. I still have higher than desirable po4. I might add a little more to the reactor, but probably not a lot. I have big fish and was never able to get nitrates down until pellets. I guess the mission is accomplished.
Click to expand...

My tank is a 180RR, 20L Refugium, and a 40b sump for now. I might add my 75 to my system too. I have 5 fish but they are small, yellow tang, blue tang, naso tang, Male Blue Throat, cling fish. I think my rocks(BRS Pukani) are leaching po4 and no3. I only feed my fish two or three 3x a day. I'll post a pic of my skimmer, its pulling out a lot of junk out.
 
Last edited:
I'm running TLF 150 with approx 1/3rd the recommended NPX media. Tied in to mj1200. No issues so far and have not seen my Phos jump around always low.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
 
I have the aqualund recirculating bio pellet reactor. After much research I decided this was the only way to go. Like DRE said above, with this type of reactor you can control the output and not strip your tank completely of nutrients , which would be a problem also. I'm using brs bio pellets , slow tumble.
 
Have you guys that are running a slow tumble tried a rougher tumble or vice versa? Controlling tumble rate is another way to control how much gets stripped out of the water column. The bacteria are only eating dissolved organics once they slough off the pellets so a slower tumble should decrease the rate at which the water is cleansed. I'm still trying to figure out how to run biopellets in my tank, I think I am going to have to make my own reactor since everything on the market is going to be too big.
 
Mine are definitely at a slow tumble. I might take the phosLoc reactor off line so more water moves through it.
 
I ran a tlf modded reactor also. With npx pellets. I used a mj1200 and had decent tumble. I used around 75ml of pellets on a 27g cube and 10 gallon sump. It took me 3 months to go up to 75 ml. I took it really slow since I wasn't familiar with them. But I had a great experience with them. I would do them again.
 
A lot of pellet talk lately. Wanted to bump this thread up for more experiences. I started running pellets again last week. So far 1/2 dose of NPX biploastics in a CPR Nano Tumbler. I have to say, I really like this reactor's tumble but I hate the way the water leaves the reactor (from the top). Kind of noisy unless you lean it JUST right.

Lets hear it, how are your pellet tanks going?
 
I don't use bio pellets, instead I use Red Sea NOPOX. I find it easier to control because I just adjust how much milliliter so dose. Bacteria need nitrate to reduce phosphates, so you want to keep some nitrates. It's easier to accomplish low vs no nitrates with liquid carbon dosing.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
ColaAddict said:
I don't use bio pellets, instead I use Red Sea NOPOX. I find it easier to control because I just adjust how much milliliter so dose. Bacteria need nitrate to reduce phosphates, so you want to keep some nitrates. It's easier to accomplish low vs no nitrates with liquid carbon dosing.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I do like the results I'm getting with Biofuel (Brightwell) but hate the daily dosing routine. With the biofuel I haven't had to clean my glass once since the move and can't even grow hair algae or chaeto in my fuge under Red/Blue LEDs. Now if only I could get this stupid Ceram-Eco rock to stop leaching whatever it is that is allowing this short weird algae to grow on it I would be thrilled!
 
Hey Nino,

I've been doing some research on NOPOX and seems really interesting. Fortunately, I have no need for any form for carbon dosing at the moment as my levels are low with water changes and I really monitor my feeding. This may change someday and I was thinking BPs.

Anyway, seems like you like this stuff. Any cautions on it? Any negatives you've experienced? (e.g. bacterial blooms, coral coloration issues...) What are your nitrate/phos levels now?
ColaAddict said:
I use an auto doser to dose my NOPOX, makes life much easier :)
Click to expand...
 
imranh said:
Hey Nino,

I've been doing some research on NOPOX and seems really interesting. Fortunately, I have no need for any form for carbon dosing at the moment as my levels are low with water changes and I really monitor my feeding. This may change someday and I was thinking BPs.

Anyway, seems like you like this stuff. Any cautions on it? Any negatives you've experienced? (e.g. bacterial blooms, coral coloration issues...) What are your nitrate/phos levels now?
Click to expand...

I actually also started with my levels already on the lower side, but just need that extra step to go ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System). I'm at UNLS now, without using carbon or GFO. I have no Algae growth.
Anytime you achieve ULNS either using liquid or solid carbon dosing, you will run into problems with your coral colors going pale because you are starving your corals. I started using Amino Acids and that fixed the problem. I have an 80 gallon system and I am using 2ml of NOPOX daily to stay ULNS. I haven't experienced any bacteria bloom, but that is possible with any carbon dosing if you are dosing too much. I started with 4ml until I achieved ULNS, then lowered my dose to 2ml to maintain ULNS.
I try to keep a small amount of measurable nitrate and that in turn keeps my phophate very low. Per Red Sea, the bacterias that consume phosphates, must have some nitrate to consume, in order to process the phophates.
 
Just wanted to bump this up and see how everyone's experiences are going and if any new adopters have new experiences?

As far as my tank, I am running a full dose for a 10g system in my ~26g system and it is going very well. There is no algae ever on the real live rocks or sand, but whatever kind of algae is on the ceram-eco rock continues to live. It doesn't grow, it isn't long, but it doesn't die off either. My chaeto doesn't grow anymore either, but it also hasn't died off. I think it's probably consuming the little bit of phosphate that the pellets don't take care of as efficiently as nitrate. I have had no coral die offs, no invert issues, and no fish problems.
 
I use the smaller Reef Octopus reactor and a small Ehiem pump. I'm running Dr Tims due to the make up of the pellet compared to some other brands. I currently use 1/4 the recommend amount from Dr Tims pellets and depending on the results, in 60 days I might move to half.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top