N/P Reducing Pellets ("Solid Vodka") - "Wow" ... 3 month update

[Willito]

Is that a typo? 900ghp? That seems like alot for a little TLF reator, much more than what I was planning. I was gearing towards 500gph or so. Guess I have to rethink my reactor again.

[kien]

haha sorry that was a typo. Meant to say maxijet 900 with 230 gph. :-)

[burrows14]

Im running 500ml on a TLF with a MJ1200 going full blast

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by kien

What I want to know is, what ever happened to the notion of having too much flow through a media reactor? I thought that too much flow would not allow for enough contact time for the bacteria to consume the passing nutrients?

x2 !
My point exactly, with fast flow how can bacteria have time to consume anything?

Unless the idea behind this (like was mentioned by Ian) is not to get anaerobic, and bacteria will consume what ever is attached to the individual pellet.
I have to report though that bubble algae is disappearing slowly, i used to have quite a bit of it and now almost nothing (!).
But there was one change, i started using Coral Snow and Zeo bak, so i don't know yet if i am convinced, but hey this is fun !

[Kryptic4L]

ordered mine last night due to this thread. also placed an order with another company for some new digital aquatics gear seeing as ive run out of space on my power bar's. I also has a plan for sponge replacement on reactor that might work out well.

[Delphinus]

I think the difference here is biology, Kien and RuGlu6. Slow flow through a media reactor to increase contact time is typically based on chemical absorption and binding with carbon and GFO. Bacteria on the other hand, in ideal growing conditions, can proliferate insanely fast. It's not unheard of for bacteria colonies to double their population in a matter of minutes. Well, anyone who's suffered through a dinoflagellate bloom in their tank has seen this with their own eyes. This is also why bacterial based ULNS trumps algal based nutrient reductions, for example (not that algae doesn't work, but it grows slower).

[kien]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I think the difference here is biology, Kien and RuGlu6. Slow flow through a media reactor to increase contact time is typically based on chemical absorption and binding with carbon and GFO. Bacteria on the other hand, in ideal growing conditions, can proliferate insanely fast. It's not unheard of for bacteria colonies to double their population in a matter of minutes. Well, anyone who's suffered through a dinoflagellate bloom in their tank has seen this with their own eyes. This is also why bacterial based ULNS trumps algal based nutrient reductions, for example (not that algae doesn't work, but it grows slower).

Ah! That makes total sense! Guess I'll crank it up and strap on a MJ1200 this weekend :-D

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by kien

I'm running 900gph and have not had much issues with mulm after I sliced my phosban filter pads I'm half . I would recommend doing this if you are going to use a phosban. Enkmat works too.

What I want to know is, what ever happened to the notion of having too much flow through a media reactor? I thought that too much flow would not allow for enough contact time for the bacteria to consume the passing nutrients?

I think that falls fro different media. The biopelets probibaly do not need the contact time like Rowa or carbon?

[Chin_Lee]

I tried using enkamat and found the pellets still get through quite easily. I then used quilting mesh and its working very well in keeping the pellets in the phosban reactor while allowing the mj1200 to flow at max.

[Delphinus]

Sorry, but as someone who doesn't quilt a whole lot, could you please post a picture so I can know what it looks like? Please and thank you?