[quote=chef;869295]The salt mixes well (as in it dissolves in water) But there is calcium, alk, magnesium, and other trace elements in the salt. When you achieve 1.025 salinity, the alk will be 10.5[/quote
I guess i misread the question. Thanks for clearing that up spitfire

I'd be all over that if you were out this way

Eli and emerald crab please post why you removed them

I had 2 systems, both established and doing well, decided to experiment with one system, built a recirculating bio pellet reactor, ran BRS pellets with the effluent aimed directly into my skimmer intake, followed BRS recommendations on the amount of pellets. After @ a week I noticed some hair algae, I tried increasing the flow, after @ a month the hair algae was a plague, I removed the pellets, increased my gfo and carbon, tried removing the algae physically, increased water changes, even tried algaefix, now I have 1 system, no pellets and no algae, no problems.

Been running bio pellets for about 3 years now. Cleared up a major nitrate (up to 100ppm) problem on a 10 year running tank that I inherited. Trick is to start slowly and use MB7 to prevent cyano.

Have been at zero nitrates more than a year now, and my bio pellet consumption in my reactor has declined to almost nothing. Last time I touched it to add bio pellets was over a year ago. Am thinking of disconnecting it, to see what happens.

I have the Vertex UF20 reactor using the Vertex bio pellets. Bought a new pack at last year's boxing day, and still haven't opened it.

What are your nitrates at? Unless you can't bring them down with standard husbandry practices, or have a very heavy bio load, why are you planning to use bio pellets?

And I use IO salt. My tank runs around 8 most of the time, but varies between 7 -9, and I adjust my doser as required. IO does mix higher alk, but my consumption is also high at this time with my corals, so I don't mind. And I only change 20% water every 3 weeks.

I have been using Vertex bio-pellets for 2 years now. Within the first year it bleached my SPS, plate corals and leathers but lowered my nitrates. I use reef crystals and add some trace elements in between a monthly water change and everything is really happy. Start slow!

Iphone video of the tank http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEs65aw7kc

im running at 7.3 dkh

It's not like they're taking up a lot of space. I'll hang on to them and drop them off to you next time I'm out that way