Taking the plunge with biopellets

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by GMGQ

Havent checked phosphates lately.

But dont the biopellets reduce Nitrates AND Phosphates?

I havent had a bacterial bloom (knock on wood). Hair algae levels have been relatively the same since the start. But some algae on the back glass has started to turn grey...

Yeah, check your phosphates... I had alot of SPS death this summer, and never check phosphates... I now test and can tell you that they were up there. I am using pellets with vodka and the combination of both is working well... Phosphates almost at undetectable range and my corals are showing great growth now. I even have had to start dosing MG, Str, and Calcium again outside of the normal water changes. Haven't needed to do this for about 6 months. So a great sign that corals are now using it.

[Bblinks]

I started pellets back in June 2010. started with 500ml np pellets, 300gph through next reef reactor. it ran for a few day before I noticed some cyano out break. I kept it running for another month or two without messing with anything except putting in some extra biostart to kick it off, everything started to look good. as far as the testing is concerned. after 6 month I noticed the pellets went down about a third, so I added another 500ml. Same deal some cyano came back but within a few days it went away. I test my phosphate and my nirate very frequently, it is alway at zero. I know its kind of hard to believe, but I use hanna for my phosphate and elos for nirate. and just to make sure I got jl aquatics to test and confirmed my results. also I do run a little bit of rowa phos just to get rid of the rest of the phosphate since the np pellet will stop when all the nirate has been removed. if any one running a refugium than I wouldn't even suggest you running rowa phos.

key for success is to take your time and leave it alone for a while, not just a couple of days. every system is different so please test test test.