Bio Pellets, To Soon To Increase The Amount?

[chris121277]

Hey Guys,

I started running Vertex bio pellets 4 weeks ago today...My system is 90 display and a 40b sump, I'm thinking about 120 ish total water volume.

I started with 250ml's and haven't noticed any difference in this time, so I'm considering adding another 100 ml's.

To soon? or should I be fine....I know I started on the low end for the amount but I just wanted to stay on the safe side.

Thanx, Chris

[Wayne]

Very slow and steady with NP pellets. After 4 weeks you should be good to add a little more. What are your levels like?

You should be sure of your system volume, for most people you can subract 1/3 of the display volume for live rock and sand, plus your sump is most likely half full... Better to estimate low then high, also how much of a biol load do you have?

[Snufflupagus]

I up mine once a month. I started with half a cup in my 150, up to 2 cups now, I'm seeing a great difference already. 2 cups to go. Good luck!

[Snufflupagus]

Oh and I'm going up by half a cup at a time, monthly.

[chris121277]

I'd say I have a medium bio load (2 small tangs, 2 clowns, clown goby, manderin goby, high fin goby, sail fin blenny)

As for my levels...trates are undetectable and unfortunately my phosphate kits ran out.

[chris121277]

Oh and I'm going up by half a cup at a time, monthly.


So ruffly 100ml's a month? did you use a bacteria booster of some kind?

[Snufflupagus]

100mL should be fine. No I didn't use any buffer.

[The Grizz]

Maybe 50 ml now and another 50 ml in 2 weeks....

[e46er]

Your more than likely at about 90 gal of water volume

I would say after 4 weeks your good to add more ..... But if your
Nitrates are Undectsble why do you feel you need to add more?

[chris121277]

But if your
Nitrates are Undectsble why do you feel you need to add more?

I have a bit of some form of turf algae on some of my rocks and I get a fuzzy green algae on my glass.....so I suspect that I have some phosphates.....now I say undetectable on the trates, but the test kit I have is so hard to tell the bottom end of the scale there could be a small amount.

The other reason I wanted to run pellets is from my understanding they produce food that your corals will consume...and well I was hoping it might help enhance my SPS colors.

[chris121277]

Maybe 50 ml now and another 50 ml in 2 weeks....

did you add any booster's when you started on pellets?

It's Greg isn't it? what ratio of pellets to gal are you running now?

[Reef Pilot]

I have been using MB7, and dosed it heavily at start up with my Vertex bio pellets. I think the MB7 helps avoid some of the other problems that I have heard of.

I have a Vertx UF20 reactor and started off with about 100ml (100g DT), for 1st month or so. Didn't do anything to my tank so doubled it then. Was running 500ml after 3 months, and that's when I really noticed a difference in my tank. I filled my reactor to near the top (remainder of 1000ml bag) after about 4 months.

It really cleared my tank of algae, and never had any cyano problems. I think the MB7 really helped make the bio pellets work, with all the beneficial bacteria.