TLF Reactor

The setup:
TLF 150 running TLF bio pellets powered by a mj 1200. Tank was clear when I left for the airport Monday morning. I return this afternoon and the tank is now cloudy and I find inside the reactor near the top it looked all white colored but like strings of it. I shut it off and dumped the small first dose water and all. I rinsed it very well and set it up again but this time moved the white plate toward the bottom. I fear that this is causing the cloudy tank. What is going on? Bloom? Also seeing a bit more cyno. Normal or should I just run GFO.

 

Ive been researching bio pellets thinking about running them on my new tank when it cycles. From what i have read about them they say there will be a time when that tank becomes cloudy, but only suppose to last couple days. Also cyno is a result of bio pellets being a form of carbon dosing and new to the system which will cause a little out break of cyno. Make sure your bio pellets are tumbling and output right by skimmer input and give it some time. Hopefully others will chime in will more exp

 

How long have you been running them? What brand pellets? What white plate are you referring to? Cloudy water caused by pellets would only be from a bacterial bloom which most likely wouldn't occur if you've just started them.

There are tons of BP threads on this forum and others regarding their use along with others experiences. I suggest you search,search,search.

 

I had that issue too, bad cyano outbreak, that white stuff and the cyano is all bacteria feeding off the carbon source. This is common when starting to or stopping biopellet reactor. I couldnt deal with it so I just tossed the biopellets and used some red slime remover to get everything back to normal and filled the reactor with carbon instead.

 

Few things regarding cloudiness...

1. Use BP only half recommended for your tank size
2. If nitrates are high that leads to cloudiness
3. if skimmer is not efficient to remove bacteria, that will lead to cloudiness

if above all taken care, then no need to worry. It will last few days and clear up. I had same issue and I took 50% of bp out and tank cleared within few hours.

 

Added some Dr Tim Refresh last night and today it is clear again. I am home for a while and will watch this closely..

 

Does everyone run the output of their reactors right into the input on the skimmer pump or really close to it?? I have been reading all afternoon about this. Thank gang