Help me get rid of my algae!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I didnt think biopellets reduced phosphates? I thought the only way to get rid of them was to have a nutrient exporter or GFO?
 
Heathd;4694728; said:
I didnt think biopellets reduced phosphates? I thought the only way to get rid of them was to have a nutrient exporter or GFO?
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Those actually work better than bio pellets becuase they will start lowering the phosphates within a few days of use (when used correctly)

I'm using the Vertex brand of bio pellets. There are a few out there, not all of them good. I personally know two other poeple who have used the same ones that I have and had a noticable reduction in phosphates within about 1 month.

I had around .5 to .75 phosphate before I started using the vertex bio pellets which was reduced to 0 after 3 weeks. I did not change anything in the tank, I only added my clown fish. I'm using a Slifert test kit which is close to lab quality test kits and has not expired.


I’m no chemist by any stretch of the imagination, but here’s how I understand how it works. The bio pellets have a few types of aerobic and anaerobic nitrifying bacteria which use carbon from the pellets to consume nitrate and phosphates. The manufacture states this process dramatically eliminates algae and cyanobacteria. As I am still am waiting for any algae (other than coralline) to appear in my tank, I’m inclined to at least partially believe what the manufacture states

I like bio-pellets better because they are a more natural approach


At least this has been my experiances
 
Good deal. I hadnt actually heard of anyone state that they had phosphates drop as a result of biopelletes.

I hear NP biopellets are good as well. I assume you have your biopellet reactor dumping into the skimmer?
 
Heathd;4694961; said:
Good deal. I hadnt actually heard of anyone state that they had phosphates drop as a result of biopelletes.

I hear NP biopellets are good as well. I assume you have your biopellet reactor dumping into the skimmer?
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That is correct. I have a supply line run off my return pump. I found you need about 400 to 450 gph flow to move the pellets gently in the reactor. I have a vertex UF-15 reactor

Sumpup-date.jpg
 
Wow, I just read the website for these pellets, and as a biologist (with a chem minor), the explanation of that seems at best little muddled (or at worst just total bs) those pellets must include some kind of ferric oxide and some other macro porous media. But they work, so that's a bonus.

nitrifying bacteria are aerobic (first two steps ammonia - nitrite - nitrate) denitrifying bacteria are anaerobic (nitrate - N2 gas.) None of these are capable of taking up phosphates. I wonder how they are doing it.

Keep testing the water, I am interested in how long they last and if anything happens down the road with em. The marketing material sounds alot like chemi-pure.
 
thisissimple;4695743; said:
Wow, I just read the website for these pellets, and as a biologist (with a chem minor), the explanation of that seems at best little muddled (or at worst just total bs) those pellets must include some kind of ferric oxide and some other macro porous media. But they work, so that's a bonus.

nitrifying bacteria are aerobic (first two steps ammonia - nitrite - nitrate) denitrifying bacteria are anaerobic (nitrate - N2 gas.) None of these are capable of taking up phosphates. I wonder how they are doing it.

Keep testing the water, I am interested in how long they last and if anything happens down the road with em. The marketing material sounds alot like chemi-pure.
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So far they are working for me, in my set-up.

I've been testing every week because my tank is still fairly new and I want to watch it closely.

I personally know at least two people whop have been using them for over 6 months now, (and a few more that have just started like me). One of these tanks is a 46 gallon reef and the other a 220 gallon reef. They have experianced the same resutls during the whole time. At about the 5 to 6 month mark (can't remember exactly) they did have to replace them as they started getting really small, getting through their reactors, and were likely not adding anything of value to the system.

That maked them darn expensive and slow to work, but they seam to be doing what the manufacture states

I'll keep you guys posted :popcorn:
 
Neato. I learn something everyday. Here is what I think is going on in a very slow release scenario with these, its bascially "carbon dosing" the system. Some people do it with Vodka apparently, its new to me, and sounds like it could upset balance in a system pretty easily. But maybe it could be used to prevent spikes from new livestock addititions? I'm going to email the WWM crew and see what Fenner thinks.

Here is a link: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/carbondosingfhtm.html

BTW - great profile pic there Cliff. My family has always had newfs. Its that a Landseer or a St. Bernard, or something else entirely?
 
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