Maybe same premise, but not the same in actual practice. Bio pellets = easy, rest = PITA. It always kills me when I see people that insist on doing things the hard way... And you can't tell them otherwise...:(

Ya, lots of ways of doing it, some work better for one person, not the next.

Yes, but what I've found, too, is that when it doesn't work for the other person, it is usually because they are not doing something right. And then they say that method doesn't work... Maybe they should try to find what they were doing wrong instead of just saying it doesn't work for them.

We all know coral reef keeping isn't all easy. We wouldn't be doing it, if that were the case, right? But geez, some of this stuff really isn't rocket science...

Like my sig says: Solutions are easy. The real difficulty lies in discovering the problem.

Reading up on bio pellets & they don't recommend using with phosphate removal. So can't use foz-down ?
Also so adding vinegar possibly could be killing some bacteria but feeding others . Could that be why the increase in nitrates ???
I've read where it takes , say , 3 months before nitrates drop .

For me, Zeovit worked well for years. Apparently. VSV dosing daily, not so much. I've given it enough time now to show results if results were coming, and I now believe they are not.

Unfortunately for me, I know the problem, but the solution isn't an option. So I need an alternate solution to the secondary problem. And I need a shorter zeo reactor.

I used both foz down and GFO with bio pellets and they all worked. I think what they are saying is that the bio pellets need some phosphates to break down (or bind) the nitrates with the bacteria to be skimmed off. But unless you are running an ultra low nutrient system, you will likely always have some phosphates and some nitrates. When I test mine, they are near zero, but don't always get a zero reading. I think the food, fish poop, detritus, rocks, etc., is always producing some nutrients in your tank.

Not sure about the vinegar killing some bacteria and creating nitrates, but for sure they feed others (like cyano), which is why you need MB7 or some other beneficial bacteria dosing.

But yeah, Mark, as discussed, it can take a few months to get nitrates (same with phosphates) under control if you start with high numbers. And it is always better to go slow anyway, and patience with keen observation is key.

Walk into kitchen....open up vinegar.....measure 20ml......dump into tank. If that's too much work then you're in the wrong hobby lol

I'm lazy, I keep my bottle under the stand. I have a doser to add VSV, but see first comment. lol

Or I suppose you could spend a couple hundred on a bio pellet reactor , plumb it into your system , replace pellets every six months ( or however often it is ) and check every once in a while to make sure they are tumbling correctly. Either way I would hardly say that's any easier than dosing vinegar or vodka etc.

Even easier lol

I keep thinking about trying biopellets but I can't really beat the simplicity of adding vinegar using a doser. All I have to do is refill a container once a month. Very simple and straightforward - don't have to worry about pellet tumbling and I don't have to take apart the reactor to refill.

I used to be dead against biopellets because I saw so many people having troubles with them. There are a few things to keep in mind when using them, and other than that they do their job - really well. I don't need biopellets in my own tank, but I do use Prodibio (for good bacteria balance) and vinegar (to make the kalk more concentrated). Though the latter two the carbon dosing effect is the secondary effect for me. :lol:

I'm lazy,... would rather do it once a year (went a year and half last time) than once a day. Keeps nitrates near zero, and only test about once a month.

I use a doser for Ca and alk, but have to test often and make occasional adjustments. Once the pellets are tumbling properly (no more than a day or two of flow adjustments), no other adjustments or maintenance necessary.

I tried the carbon dosing initially, and for me it was a big PITA with all the measuring, calculating, and adjusting to get your nitrates where you want them to be.

Plus with dosers there is always a risk if something goes wrong, whether it is lines plugging, calculation errors (esp initially), or Apex (or other timer) going nuts on you.