I've been using bio-pellets on my system since Aug 2010, with excellent results. Nitrates are undetectable and phosphates 0.01-0.03 steadlily.
I started this thread to read update from other users of bio-pellets, good, bad, or indifferent.
If good, share your experience
If Bad, also share what occurred
Tom, whats going on with your bio-pellets use? You've been quiet....
ummm...status quo!!!
after the first 4-6 weeks there weren't any significant changes.
lets back up a bit.....prior to bio pellets implementation, the nitrate was in the neighborhood of 10-20 and phos- 0.05.
i started with about 1000ml of bio-pellets (half the dosage) in a 3.5" x 24" precision marine reactor driven by a mj1200. i started the bio-pellets about a week or so after doclopez.(8/25/10)
after about 3 weeks or so, i started to see the colors of acro's becoming more vibrant. but the monti's started to brown out...the polyps were still out like normal but the bright green polyps became brown.....my theory is that the water became more clear and the monti's weren't happy. no noticeable changes in other corals.
the nitrate was about the same however phos dropped to 0.03. there were a lot of cruds clogging the filter sock from the second to third week. and the skimmate was more cruddy and stinkier than normal. this was about the time the bio-pellets level dropped about 2".
after about 7 weeks(10/15), i added about 800ml more of the biopellets leaving some room for them to tumble. the mj1200 wasn't cutting it so i changed the pump to a rio 1100 rated at about 380gph with more head pressure. the pellets tumbled very nicely after that. the monti's are still brown, everything seems to grow and color up as expected. the skimmer pulled out cruddier and stinkier stuff still. the tunicate and other filter feeders seem to be very happy.
now we're at about the 10th week....no drop in bio-pellets level since added. nitrate is about 10 and phos is 0.01-0.03. no longer use the ferric oxide...the reactor is still running but haven't change the media since 8/20.
one thing i noticed, the calcium media (korallin c-30002 4"x 24") dropped 7 inches since july.....don't know if that's a lot or not...it's my first cal. rx.
conclusion:
the acro's seem to grow more quickly and more vibrant, the water looks clearer, the filter feeders seem happier, the skimmate is cruddier and stinkier, and the cal. media seem to drop more quickly.
the nitrate and phos are maintained without the ferric oxide and perhaps dropped a little.
i wouldn't say the bio-pellets made a huge difference but did help maintain the phos. and nitrate therefore almost everyone, with the exception of the monti's, are happier. and that's ok in my book.
the water change schedule had been stretched to 2 weeks (sometimes even 3) while breaking in the pellets. it will be back to weekly (to bi-weekly) soon.
one thing i forgot...there seem to be some red algae growing on the rock where there are high flow(so it's not cyano) and had over grown the birdnest colony....... that may be the bulbs??? they are due for a change.
hey doc......coincidentally i noticed them red algae on the rocks in your tank also but forgot to mention it.
enough update for you?.....lol.
