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peiji 
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 Topic: biopellet reactor questions and advice-skeeking
Posted: June 24 2014 at 2:46pm |
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Just wondering who uses biopellets and their experience in a reef tank. My nitrates are usually around 2-5ppm according to the Salifert test kit. I do a lot of water changes and run a skimmer. I could cut down on feeding but I've never seemed to have 0 nitrates as long as I've been testing. Would biopellets help? Are there downsides? What kind of reactor do you need? I've had Little Fishes phosban reactor in storage for years. Could I use that?
Edited by peiji - June 24 2014 at 2:47pm
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Jared Page
Highland, UT
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 24 2014 at 7:19pm |
Are you kidding? That Nitrate level is awesome. (I'm actually amazed that you still test Nitrates.) A reef actually runs through literally tons of nutrients, including N compounds, but because there are so many organisms excreting and eating the excretement, the water tests low for N compounds. Now I have never used biopellets so don't take this as saying not to use them, but I have seen enough to know that caution is required. Start off slow, very slow. Also, they are not all they are cracked up to be and just recently we saw biopellets cause a big problem in a big tank. The biopellets were removed and now the tank is doing awesome. Whether you choose to use biopellets, vodka, sugar, extra food or some other carbon source, here are links to very good explanation of the principle and the pros and cons: http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/probiotics-demystifiedhttp://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70974There is excellent bio-filtration going on in your tank. I'll bet that you could actually reduce the frequency of water changes and not have any bad effects. Aloha 
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Ann_A
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Posted: June 24 2014 at 7:50pm |
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I've been running biopellets for awhile now and though I've never had a problem I intend to stop running them. If you have a power outage or lose flow to them for a long enough time period they can start producing hydrogen sulfide which can be deadly to a reef tank. They can also cause bacterial blooms as well as other issues. However if you are careful and take precautions they can be wonderful.
If your goal is simply to reduce nitrates I recommend a biodenitrator. I run a Korallin Biodenitrator on my tank and love it. I've never had problems with it and have almost always tested nitrates below 1ppm (Red Sea test kit).
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peiji
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Posted: June 24 2014 at 10:14pm |
Thanks. I just can't seem to figure out why my zoa colonies keep melting. I've done and tested for everything. I've done all the dips there are, i can't really see any type of fungus or critters or fish bothering them. I just lost a colony of 30+ Rastas and you know how valuable those were. Just can't figure it out. Most of my zoas look great and then suddenly a whole colony will just close up and a few days later be gone.
I've asked Brandon Hill's advice but no response.
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Jared Page
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LaRue
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Posted: June 25 2014 at 5:40am |
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How long do you have the zoas before the typically start to melt? what do you keep your levels at salinity alk cal mag? What kind of lights are you running? Is it all your zoas or just certain types? Are you dosing any additives fuel coral snow anything like that?
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 25 2014 at 7:36am |
Yes, we would like to help. Please give the answers to Shane's questions, post a pic of your tank and a pic of dissolving Zoas. Aloha P.S. Because Zoanthids are his business, Brandon is understandably protective of his methods and success. I considered it extremely generous that he gave us the information he did in his presentation. In a thread running concurrently I mention a secret yet commonly available product he uses to help with Zoanthid growth and health. It's kind of interesting to me that nobody has asked, What is that product?
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peiji
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Posted: June 26 2014 at 9:05am |
What is that product Mark? lol.
I intend to answer the questions in another thread. Doesn't belong here. Too late to post pics of the dissolving zoas. The Rastas are 100% gone now and it's totally random which ones that are affected. Usually the very expensive ones and only after I've had them for several months. I had the Rastas for about 8 or 9 months through 2 different tanks and one day, the whole colony just closed up and nothing else around it. So, i removed a portion of it and did a bunch of dips over a few weeks on that portion and left the rest of the colony alone. Both areas are gone now.
I only mentioned asking Brandon because I'm sure everyone's first response would be, ask Brandon.
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Jared Page
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love2skiutah
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Posted: June 26 2014 at 9:14am |
This is a good read on my mistake with the pellets. I know several people who run them, I just couldn't get them to work. I think if I had been more patient in the long run, I could have made it work.
http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68988&KW=bio+pellets&title=help-bacteria-or-algae
I don't regret trying them, even though a few friends told me no. It was fun experimenting with them, but I'm done with experimenting :)
Edited by love2skiutah - June 26 2014 at 9:15am
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