Lets talk bio pellets

Who here is using bio pellets, also have you had success, do you like them, what size is your system and how stocked is it???

pics are always welcome


i just purchased a reactor and 1000ml of WM Ecobak pellets.. and im using the purelyH20 reactor with a new model maxi jet 1200, so i should have plenty of flow to make them tumble and there will be a valve to fine tune it

Ive done a good bit of research on this, but most of the threads i have read were from 2010.. I read good reviews and alot of bad reviews, but most of these people were going by the total gallon usage of recomendation while the correct way is to start at a low amount and each week bump it up a little until nitrates are 0... also have a good skimmer with the reactor output at the input of the skimmer..

At the moment i have a low bioload in the 150, but im adding a few fish friday.. My levels arent that high but i want them as close to undetectable as possible.

so lets see the results of them and what everyone thinks

 

I just installed Bio Pellets (WM EcoBak) to my system earlier this week. I cannot comment on how they are doing as of yet.

I have a 29 gallon DT with a 10 gallon sump. Estimate of 35Lbs rock (25 in DT), 2" sandbed. Running a BM Naq QQ skimmer, BRS Reactor for Carbon/GFO, and a Phosban 150 for EcoBak, with an Eheim 1262 return plumbed to run reactors...yes I fit all of that in a 10 gallon!

Params:
NO3 - < 5
PO4 - 0.1

Bioload:
1 Bangaii Cardinal (2.5")
3 Green Reef Chromis (2")
1 ORA Spotted Mandarin
Various SPS/LPS/Paly's

 

hey can you send me a pic of how you plumbed your return to do that, i have a couple reactors i wanna use and do that as well, TIA


also how many ML of pellets did you start with

 

I have roughly 250mL in there. I'll get a pic in a bit.

 

Pics aren't going to happen, but I whipped up this 2nd grader drawing of my plumbing. very simple to do. I switch over to PVC after the "Tees".

 

thanks, i figured thats how you did it...

 

I was actually one of if not the first to run the Ecobak pellets. I ran 2 liters and acutally felt that they were a product that would become a big step forward in the reefing hobby, especially for sps keepers. I found that those with the best result were those that kept the pellets moving and had a skimmer on the larger size. Those with small skimmers and did not keep the pellets moving, seemed to have various issues with their corals. I frankly loved it because you got the benefits of bacterial dosing without the tedious dosing. I will say, I do not like the idea of beginning reefers using pellets until they understand how and why they work. JMO

The only reason I stopped is because I took my reactor it offline due to a pending move. We have since cancelled the move and plan to set the reactor back up once we return from vacation.

 

I'm waiting for my BRS reactor and pellets in the mail. By the time I have results you'll have your own, however, it'll be interesting to see how it works for you in comparison to my system.

 

Yea reactor and pellets should be here Monday.

What pellets did u go with. What size total tank volume. And what kind of skimmer

 

Yea ive always dosed carbon in my previous tanks. Now that the new tank is up and going strong I figured y not give the pellets a try. Should save me some time in the mornings