TM01 - Gone Biopellets!

[TM01]

500ml started on 400g of volume today!

I customized a Avast 4x18 reactor by removing the stock insert and adding my DIY cone mod and plumbing. The reactor is being fed from my main return line via a valve. I really didnt want to have to add another pump. The reactor is located in my sump. If something leaks, at least its contained.

Start up went fine, more of just getting the flow dialed for now really. Pellets (TLF) had been soaking in RO prior for 24hrs and are now tumbling really well. I started using Seachem Stability to the system a couple days ago and added some to the reactor after adding the BP tonight as well. Reactor output is about 2" away from the skimmer opening. I plan on adding another 500ml of BP in a few weeks if all goes well.

Right now Im just hoping my system doesnt blow up the day before Christmas. This is new ground for me. :snorkel:

Alk:7.5
Calc: 450
Mag:1400ish
NO3: 1+ ppm
PO4: .12 ppm (Hanna)
BRS: Carbon Reactor running
GFO: Off

What do you think..little too fast for now?
2011-12-24_19-41-28_838 video by TM01_2007 - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid272.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid272.photobucket.com/albums/jj198/TM01_2007/photobucket-3041-1324775791898.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@vid272@@AMEPARAM@@272 @@AMEPARAM@@jj198/TM01_2007/photobucket-3041-1324775791898@@AMEPARAM@@mp4 (http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj198/TM01_2007/?action=view&current=photobucket-3041-1324775791898.mp4)

[TM01]

Comments? Advice? Some experience here? lol


No changes, or explosions to report this morning. :thumbsup:

[slapshot]

Did you start right out with 500 ml? If so I would remove half and keep it soaking in r/o. You really want to slowly ramp up to a full load.

Starting off with all at once will deplete the no3 and phosphate too fast and can cause problems with too big if a drop in your ph. I started off with 25 ml increments until the ph returned to normal then added another 25.

[TM01]

Did you start right out with 500 ml? If so I would remove half and keep it soaking in r/o. You really want to slowly ramp up to a full load.

Starting off with all at once will deplete the no3 and phosphate too fast and can cause problems with too big if a drop in your ph. I started off with 25 ml increments until the ph returned to normal then added another 25.

500ml is what I was recommended to start with. The BP bag recommends 100ml for 25g. I know I needed to start slow but really...that slow?

pH monitor showed 8.35 at midnight and is currently showing 8.32

[slapshot]

Really that slow. I did a ton of research before I went down the road and 100 percent of the people who had troubles it was from going to fast. Your ph will drop in 36 to 48 hours them recover in another 24 hours. That us when you can add more. Slower is better.

[Tom Toro]

[QUOTE=slapshot;135963]Really that slow. I did a ton of research before I went down the road and 100 percent of the people who had troubles it was from going to fast. Your ph will drop in 36 to 48 hours them recover in another 24 hours. That us when you can add more. Slower is better.[/e

I wiped out half my sps when I went too fast. Don tried. To tell me. to go slow but I didn't listen. I started with 125 m l and then I. Raised it to 500 m l too soon and got myself in trouble.

on my 400 gal system I started with 125 m l and then went up 125 m l increments every 2 weeks or so while testing for nitrates. So far all is well in there.

Keep us posted Todd n. Mine tumbles about the same as urs so i hope its ok lol.

[TM01]

I removed half of the pellets and put them in freshwater. I also kicked up the flow in the reactor so that the pellets are more in suspension now.

Thanks for the help! I have next week off so I was planning on monitoring it while I was in start up mode. I thought I was taking the warnings to heart...but obviously I was wrong...agian..lol. My tank thanks you guys. :thumbsup:

Alk: 8
Calc:440
Mag: 1350 (lower than expected)
No3: 1-2
Po4: .11
pH: 8.35 (MH on) I would expect to see 8.47-8.5 today


(7:12pm)
pH: 8.53,
MH off, t5 off in 30m, 8bulb frag on until 11:15pm

[TM01]

pH: 8.39
Alk: 7.5

The tank looks fine. Everything is open and happy.

FS replaced, Ax2/C/M dosed during the day. Kalk night.

[TM01]

Alk: 7.5
Calc:450
Mag: 1350
No3: 0-1
Po4: .08
pH: 8.35

MH on, Alk dose, 79deg, Carbon on, GFO off, water appears clearer.

[slapshot]

Hmmmm you should have seen a drop in your PH by now. maybe because your NO3 is so low already. Don't forget to up your feeding a little you don't want your corals to start to starve.

[TM01]

Alk: 8.0
pH: 8.41-8.40

8bulb frag on until 11:15, Kalk start 10:30, AA 1/2 dosed. 2p Nori, 2p feeds today.

Not sure..I had the family check for color as well. On a side note..skimmer has doubled over the past few days.

[TM01]

Alk: 8.0
pH: 8.48-8.47

8b til 11:15, Ka off, Alk dose 5pm, FS changed, 79 deg, 2p Nori, 2p feed, skim cleaned, FWr

Wow...Skimmer has doubled production easy. Cup was 2/3 full when I arrived home today. Its pulled a easy quart of nasty dark green skim over 3 days. The inside of the lid was thick with caked skim paste. Best performance Ive seen from this skimmer ever. :big_grin:

[larryandlaura]

Awesome Todd im following this thread closely.

[Tom Toro]

You are having great results! My skimmers did the same thing. Like a new piece of equipment. Your parameters are great too! Keep updating, Todd! I read 'em all.




Alk: 8.0
pH: 8.48-8.47

8b til 11:15, Ka off, Alk dose 5pm, FS changed, 79 deg, 2p Nori, 2p feed, skim cleaned, FWr

Wow...Skimmer has doubled production easy. Cup was 2/3 full when I arrived home today. Its pulled a easy quart of nasty dark green skim over 3 days. The inside of the lid was thick with caked skim paste. Best performance Ive seen from this skimmer ever. :big_grin:

[TM01]

Alk: 7.5
Calc:440
Mag: 1350
No3: 0-1
Po4: 0.00 (was .12 five days ago)
pH: 8.27

DT off, Alk dose m&n, 79deg, Carbon on, GFO off, Kalk night 6 cycles 10:30-7:30. 2p nori, 2p feedings.

Main DT is looking great! Frag tank needs some attention. :)

[slapshot]

Alk: 7.5
Calc:440
Mag: 1350
No3: 0-1
Po4: 0.00 (was .12 five days ago)
pH: 8.27

DT off, Alk dose m&n, 79deg, Carbon on, GFO off, Kalk night 6 cycles 10:30-7:30. 2p nori, 2p feedings.

Main DT is looking great! Frag tank needs some attention. :)
Looking good. I saw you ph dropped a bit yesterday do you can add more pellets tomorrow. Slooowwwly.

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------

Looking good. I saw you ph dropped a bit yesterday do you can add more pellets tomorrow. Slooowwwly.

[TM01]

Looking good. I saw you ph dropped a bit yesterday do you can add more pellets tomorrow. Slooowwwly.

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------

Looking good. I saw you ph dropped a bit yesterday do you can add more pellets tomorrow. Slooowwwly.

Thanks! I cant wait! I think Im going to re-add 1/2 of the 250ml of BP I took out from the beginning and see how it goes for another 5-7 days. Not sure what Im going to do with by GFO reactor now. :)

[slapshot]

Well don't lose it. As you feed more (which you should be doing) or add more fish the phosphate - nitrate balance will come into play. You may have to run some gfo for a while in order to lower the phosphates to lower the nitrates. They are linked. The pellets do a better job with nitrates so what we are finding is after awhile the nitrates start creeping up as the phosphates rise. A week of gfo seems to put everything back.