Bio Pellets

[Skim]

Just wondering if anyone is still using them and I am looking for input from those that have run them long term 2 + years. Its just with the cost of GFO starting to go up and quite a jump it has been Rowa Bucket I paid 186 just 6 months ago and now 220 seems to be the norm, not that I have used it up but just looking a future expense. I was think of pulling out the reactor again a giving it another shot as first few times did not go so well.

Skim

 

[TORX]

GFO and BioPellets are for 2 completely different things. BioPellets will not replace GFO. GFO is for lowering phosphates while pellets are for lowering nitrates.

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[TORX]

To clarify, some report pellets reduce phosphates. Typically it is at a 4 to 1 ratio meaning for every 4 parts nitrate you go down, you will also go down 1 part phosphates. Tour nitrates would have to be off the charts to relay on pellets to keep phosphates down.

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[teebone110]

if your looking for a cost effective alternative to GFO, consider Lanthanum chloride for phosphate reduction.

As Torx clarified, Bioplellets are best for Nitrate reduction, but another option could be the "All in One" pellets that are specifically designed to improve phosphate reduction further then regular biopellets, but still not as cost effective as Lanthanum chloride.

 

[TORX]

Lanthanum chloride has great reviews. I myself have some, but I still need 5 micron socks.

AIO is another great option to attack both nitrates and phosphates. It is great if you have limited space. It is Mostly dependant on tank size though as it can get expensive on a larger tank. Especially if your phosphates are high and exhausting the media quickly.

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[AdInfinitum]

...and you should've seen what the Lanthanum Chloride did for my SW pool this summer!!! Unbelievable how cheap and easy it is to rip PO4 out of huge volumes of water now....the challenge for Aquaria is to not do it too fast...start very very slow and diluted!!!

 

[teebone110]

... and don't forget that growing Chaeto is another cheap and easy way to rid you tank of phosphates too

 

[zoomster]

I just finished "weening" my tank off bio pellets a while ago.
I believe that they were actually hurting a bit.
Even keeping them tumbling nicely I had a constant N03 level of about 15ppm
Leaving everything else the same, and taking my mentors advice, I weened it off the pellets and, I kid you not, within 2 weeks- 0ppm nitrate and still at 0 now.
This is just my opinion and experience as all tanks are, and react, differently due to an infinite amount of variables.
Hope this helps skim.

 

[Cliff]

I personally don't like bio pellets and they scare the hell out of me. Think about it. Couple hr power outage than the reactor starts up pumping all that hydrogen sulfide Into your tank and boom there go all your fish! That being said... I do use them now.. But when my system matures enough so my Ats can keep up I'll b weening off of em also