the official ECOBAK thread...

Jon, can biopellets be used with a UV? Does the order of the equipement matter? I would have a sump manifold feed the biopellet reactor with reactor return next to the skimmer, which then finishes going through the sump and I have the UV off the main return line. I can have 100% of the return water go through a UV or a partial amount flowing through back to the main tank.

There has been mention of high alk > 9 causing burnt tips in SPS. Is is the low nutrient enviroment and high alk together that causes the problem? I’ve had alk between 9-10 and have not seen ill sps effects. Thanks

 

Hello the bacteria we're talking about here are localized on the surface of the pellets so a UV in theory shouldn't affect them. And a limited number of people have reported SPS problems with ULN systems and higher ALK. I don't think it's an issue limited to biopellets... and I would certainly stay under 10 as a precaution.

 

I have a question, what size are the pellets?? Right now I have NPX pellets that are just about the size of rice. The pictures I have seen of the ECOBak is the size of small peas??

 

Hope this helps.

 

Would ecobak pellets run well in this style of reactor?

 

its an interesting reactor and if the flow is turned DOWN it may work really well. In my opinion what you see in the video is way too aggressive.

 

If running an MJ1200 with a TLF reactor, what would flow need to be?? I am going to be ordering 250ml for my 56 gallon tank.

When I get them do I add them slowly or all at once??

 

with 250ml of ecoBAK that's a bit much waterflow... you will need to valve back the MJ1200 a bit. We're just looking for a gentle tumble.

 

Jon, I meant to ask you this while you were in Nashville. I keep seeing folks constantly refer to only running your alkalinity at a level of 7.5-8 while running ecobak or just bio pellets in general. And I have never gotten a straight forward answer as to why this is better. Can you break that down for me in a definitive answer?

 

Hi Chris,

There is anecdotal reporting that alk above 9 may be problematic for some SPS with Low Nutrient Systems including Vodka dosed systems, Zeo systems and ecoBAK systems. But I've also heard people report that they have excellent results at 10+...