O.C.'s Pellet questions and answers!

[loveless]

Ok, its been five weeks today since starting the pellets. And I dont think i am experiencing what everyone else is.

[IMG][/IMG]

This test was taken today after a 10% water change. Tank water on right and reactor output oh the left, doesnt really matter. High nitrates aside, they should be different correct???

Info.

-330gal ish tank

-Vertex reactor on mj1200. Pellets tumbling nicely

-1L of NP bio pellets.

-Tank has been up for about 5 months, and used live rock from old tank.

-Sand was from old tank as well but rinsed thoroughly, safe to say very clean.

The only thing i can think of that might be a contributing factor in the whole picture is that I used this http://www.tetra-fish.com/sites/tetr...id=1276&cid=73to make up a large portion of the initial startup water. It made my skimmer go crazy. It says on the package that it has mucous promoting chemical which I assume is the reason for the skimmer overflow.

Could the mucous promoting chemical in the water conditioner be killing the whole carbon bacteria cycle in my Bio pellets?????

Ian I have yet to try bacteria supp, kinda hard to find, but I did slow down the reactor to no avail.


Could anyone tell me what exactly should be happening.


Thanks
Cam

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by loveless

Ok, its been five weeks today since starting the pellets. And I dont think i am experiencing what everyone else is.

[IMG][/IMG]

This test was taken today after a 10% water change. Tank water on right and reactor output oh the left, doesnt really matter. High nitrates aside, they should be different correct???

Info.

-330gal ish tank

-Vertex reactor on mj1200. Pellets tumbling nicely

-1L of NP bio pellets.

-Tank has been up for about 5 months, and used live rock from old tank.

-Sand was from old tank as well but rinsed thoroughly, safe to say very clean.

The only thing i can think of that might be a contributing factor in the whole picture is that I used this http://www.tetra-fish.com/sites/tetr...id=1276&cid=73to make up a large portion of the initial startup water. It made my skimmer go crazy. It says on the package that it has mucous promoting chemical which I assume is the reason for the skimmer overflow.

Could the mucous promoting chemical in the water conditioner be killing the whole carbon bacteria cycle in my Bio pellets?????

Ian I have yet to try bacteria supp, kinda hard to find, but I did slow down the reactor to no avail.


Could anyone tell me what exactly should be happening.


Thanks
Cam

Cam,

I am perplexed as to what is happening in your tank with Nitrates, there has to be some sort of activity that is limiting bacterial colonization of the Pellets...... I would most definitely try to find some Zeobac or Microbacter 7 in order to inoculate your system. You could be dealing with a chemical issue or simply a monoculture in your tank.