the official ECOBAK thread...

Great questions and easy answers too.

1) Without getting too complex... bacteria consume more than just NO3 and PO4. It's safe to say they are consuming a host of nitrogen based compounds. Just like when people say "I can't have hair algae, my PO4 is 0" there is more to it than that lol...

2) As bacteria colonizes the surface of the ecoBAK a layer of biomass will grow of varying thicknesses. This biomass will shear off or break off the surface of the pellet and it goes into your display. These very small particles, basically bundles of bacteria and their waste products go into solution in the display system and generate more bacterial growth in the water stream. That's the cloudiness. This is particularly pronounced in reactors with EXCESSIVE flow. Either way, it's a temporary condition and not meaningful.

3) You can run GAC and ecoBAK in a system. They both clean the water but in different methods. ecoBAK makes water crystal clear by particulate becoming trapped in biomass, binding with biomass in solution and because ecoBAK encourages skimming particulate laden waste.

Of course GAC works by physically trapping particulate in its pores.

Again, great questions... and thanks!

 

Hi Jon

I recently came across this on reef builders
Warner Marine ecoBAK NWF “biopellet sheets” are a new way to think about carbon dosing

Is there any update as to when these sheets will be introduced. I figure they would be a great thing to out in my sons nano where I have very limited room in the sump for another reactor.

 

Jon,

Thanks much, the answers are very interesting. If I may pick at #3 a bit though, I'm still curious if there would be a compelling need to run both. If each removes different particulates or if EcoBAK is likely to miss something important that carbon gets, then both would be good. If not, clearly clear is clear.

 

When starting a brand new tank, with very little live rock/sand, would you introduce biopellet reactor after tank cycles and first real bio-load is added (first few fish)? Or run it fromd day one of the cycle?

In either case, since it's a brand new tank, would you then add entire media amount at once? Or still ramp up over 2..4 weeks?

Thank you.

 

I'm working on different applications and formats for the fiber. I may possibly go with a pre-cut pads kinda like a poly-filter.

 

GAC removes much smaller particulate (and dissolved compounds) that will not "flocculate" with bacterial biomass.

Having said that... users of ecoBAK frequently report remarkably crystal clear water. I hear reports such as "fish floating in air" all the time...

 

Many people have started using ecoBAK from day #1. It is an acceptable usage.

Just to remind everyone... in a sterile environment ecoBAK is just an inert plastic pellet. It adds nothing and takes nothing from water. Only in the presence of organic compounds will bacteria begin to grow and consume ecoBAK.

 

Jon,

Any experience with the CAD Lights Conic Pellet Reactors? I am looking for a new reactor, as the MR-1 just isn't cutting it. I have to run a Mag 7 all out to get tumble on 500mL, which is crazy in my opinion. I am looking for a reactor with a built-in pump. I like the Reef Octopus Pellet Reactors too, but don't want to pay the Bubble Blaster premuim. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!
Andy

 

Jon, I know you recommend a flow rate that is "just tumbling" but with the new BioChurn reactors by Reef Octopus where you can adjust the churn and the flow independently would you still recommend "just tumbling" or was that guidance really more in relation to the amount of water through the system?

Also I have another brand of pellets that I had started with in my old tank before finding out about yours, is there any harm in using what I have left to seed the new set up, i.e. mixing the two types of pellets?

Thanks. I'm trying to sort out which reactor to finally get this going on my new tank.

 

At this point I haven't seen any video of the new reactor running at a low speed so I don't know how well it works when running at a proper flow.

But let me just say... if someone buys that reactor installs it on a system and runs it with ANY brand of pellet and sets it to spin like the the videos I've seen... they will have major issues. On a system with high NO3 and PO4 the bacterial bloom could be dangerous.

Having said that... if it runs well at a low flow/speed it may be fine. At this time just stick with the original RO reactor which works very well.

The use of ecoBAK is so simple... it seems these other manufacturers are just making it more confusing with more complex reactors. I've stated earlier I see no benefit to a reactor with independent flow/tumble control.

The existing reactors on the market already work great with ecoBAK and give fantastic results... I mean if your already at near 0 NO3 and PO4 whats the point?