What is the best media for reactor?

Could be iron (?) or perhaps your nitrates are high?

 

No worries, I would like to hear more about these bio pellets. Not entirely sure how they work.

 

regarding only the bio pellets is it more for the gas exchange? or do pellets produce organic waste also. from all the ads regarding them. I got out of it that the end result is nitrogen gas?

 

Well for those of you looking for more information look here. this is the brand I use, they arent the only brand but seem to be one of the better brands. Warner Marine Ecobak is also good.

Active Pearls

 

The bio pellets are a form of Carbon dosing. I dont know if you are familiar with Carbon dosing but carbon dosing adds a bacteria to the water that consumes phosphates and nitrates, this bacteria is then picked up by the skimmer. (this is the simplest way of explaining it)

Phosphates and Nitrates normally cant be taken out by the skimmer alone.

I dont know about the Nitrogen gas part. Ive read that the gas exchange is important because this bacteria that is being produced is using up more oxygen than before, without the bio pellets.

 

Interesting. How would you compare its effectiveness compared to GFO or the like? Do the corals benefit from the bacteria (i.e. food).

 

I havent been using it long enough to really comment, but most people who use some form of carbon dosing report better colors in their sps due to the lower phosphates.

 

I run PhosGuard in a DIY reactor, and rarely add/change it. It seemed to help alot to get rid of some Cyano I was having- also probalby better ovarall maintenance however.

I put a little a a media bag and a media bag with some GAC in my intank skimmer also.

The PhosGuard - a name brand I thought was a little different than the others- not sure.
Rarely add/change my GAC either- no smells and it still seems to be working, never has an issue with my coral, etc.

 

A couple more articles for those interested. Just please do your research before pulling the trigger and if you do decide to take one of these routes, just go slow. This can crash a tank.

Carbon Dosing in Layman

Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com

 

great articles. really answer all questions