Ya, i cut both sponges down to like 2-5mm.. but you are right, the bottom sponge is not necessary and I will likely take it out soon. The top sponge is nice to have in case I accidentally blast the reactor and blow pellets through the top :-) But again, just a thin 2-5mm sponge.

:lol: Me likey. PM inbound your way there..

so got my pellets tonight, tumbling away for now...

Since I managed to sell a component of my project. I made a picture of it, and hopes someone will turn my dream into reality.


This was my idea for a bio pellet tumbler.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...Untitled-1.jpg

Made out of a CPR refuge.

I just ordered some this morning, I look forward to giving them a try.

3 month update
 

So, I've kind of let some of the week to week updates slide in this thread because there hasn't been much new to report, other than "my nitrates are still basically undetectable."

But it's closing in on 3 months in now (I think, haven't quite counted the weeks, please forgive me if I'm a little off), so I think it's time for an update.

1. Feedings. I have put two auto feeders on my tank. One is programmed to dump food on a 4 hour schedule. The other is a bit more primitive, is a battery operated drum that rotates twice per 24 hours. I've tried to time that one to dump in at 10am (shortly before lights on) and 10pm (shortly before lights out). The other dumps in at 10:30, 2:30, 6:30 and 10:30. I have the light sensor switch on so it only dumps during the daytime when lights are on.

So that is 6 feedings per day. I find it quite significant that I can do this and maintain nitrates at undetectable. I think the fish are looking great.


2. Filter feeders. I have noticed an increase in the density of feather dusters in the sump, particularly on the baffle directly downstream of the reactor effluent. I think that is telling.

I couldn't quite get perfect pictures that illustrate the phenomenon, but here is what I did manage to photograph:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/IMG_0795.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/IMG_0794.jpg


3. Tumbling. This area hasn't been quite problem free and here's what I can share for key learnings.

It is crucial to optimal performance that the pellets are constantly fluidized energetically.

To that end, it is better to use a smaller volume of pellets than the recommended dosage for your tank volume, if it can be maintained as tumbling - than it is to worry about the volume used. A half litre of pellets will work far better than a full litre if that full litre is not tumbling. What will happen if you use a smaller volume than recommended is that they will dissolve faster and need faster replacement - however the overall nutrient reduction capacity is not diminished with fewer pellets.

I am considering upgrading my feed pump to perhaps a Seltz pump L35 or L40 to increase the vigor of tumbling in my own reactor.


4. Zeovit. I initially went into this with enthusiasm for mixing both systems. As time goes on, I must confess now that I am considering curtailing back the zeolites and compensating with additional pellets. I will still continue with other typical Zeovit products (eg., Coral Snow, Coral Vitalizer, and Sponge Power). At the moment I haven't made any final decisions towards this end, however.

Should be starting the pellets on my tank next week!

hey Ton, what size tank are we talking about and can you name all the occuppance. I just wanted to have a better idea of the bioload. Keep up the good updates, it's very informative.

We still have Pellets in stock and ready to ship, we only have the 500ml sizes, if you order the 1000ml sizes you will be shipped two 500ml bags! We also have the Vertex reactors in stock for our "original" Reactor package deal!

Ian
O.C.

Wow, good question Will. I can't believe I didn't think to list that out here. I'm sorry. I'll list it out here and the copy that into the initial post just so that anyone else wondering doesn't have to sift through the whole thread to find that info.

Tank background:
- 115g cube tank (30x30x30)
- Approx 80 lbs live rock arranged in a bommie, or "rock island" style aquascape
- 1" sandbed (about a 4" wide strip surrounding the bommie)
- no refugium (previously was running chaeto in a small aquaclear lit by 2x9w PC; but this is now offline, the chaeto was the first algal casualty to the pellets)
- 2 part autodosing for Ca and Alk, Mg dosed manually
- Skimmer: Precision Marine "Bullet 1" beckett
- Light: single 250w DE on 12 hour photoperiod

Inhabitants:

There are 15 fish in this tank:
- Tangs: Zebrasoma desjardini (Red Sea sailfin), Acanthurus tennentii (lieutenant), A. nigrofuscus (lavender)
- Rabbit: Siganus doliatus (penciled)
- Angels: Centropyge potters (potters), M/F pair Genicanthus bellus (bellus)
- Butterflies: pair Chaetodon ulietensis (doublesaddle or false falcula)
- Wrasse: Halichoeres chrysus (canary)
- Dottyback: Psuedochromis fridmani (orchid)
- Eel: Gymnothorax melatremus (golden dwarf moray)
- Trigger: Xanthicthys mento (crosshatch)
- Chromis: Chromis viridis (green)
- Blenny: Cirripectes stigmaticus (ember or scarface)

Other inhabitants:
- Various tridacnids (T. derasa, T. crocea, T. squamosa)
- Various ps gorgonians
- Various zoanthids
- E. quadricolor (rose BTA)

Currently no SPS or LPS (would be butterfly food).

Reactor
 

Paul, would I be able to pick up my reactor and pellets on my way home from work today?
Keith.

Keith,

Your reactor is waiting for you at the shop, the pellets are sitting in my office in Langley. You are welcome to swing in here to get your pellets then meet Paul at the store to get your reactor.... I would pick up our reactor Mod well you are at it.

reactor
 

Ian, I am off work tommorow, would that work better?
No hurry really.
Keith.

Just was watching the fish after dinner here, watching the ember blenny scoot around and I realized .. I forgot to list him. So it's actually 15 fish in there. (List updated...)

I think this would work really well except for not with a stream powerhead like that since what will happen is the pellets will just get sucked up to the intake slots. So what I'd do is basically a miniature closed loop. Use a powerhead or small pump (like a Seltz or similar), and use tubing or piping so that the intake is near the surface where the pellets wont be and then exhaust that water at the bottom where you have the powerhead in the drawing now.

Or better yet, just have the pump in the sump or whatever, and that is both your feed pump AND pellet tumbler.

Has anyone modified their Zeovite reactor to accomodate the pellets? I keep getting an inch or so of stuck pellets at the top while the rest is tumbling somewhat.

I was thinking about that too. Probably a slam dunk since they tend to come with a pump. So long as it's strong enough to tumble them in the reactor..

Actually I did that last night, removed the zeolites and put another litre of pellets in it. It doesn't work that well, I have the vertex reactor and found that even though they tumbled, over time they bunched up and stopped.

Today I went to see Danny @ Wai's to buy another Deltec 509 Fluidizer. Currently I am running 1.5L of BioPellets in that type of reactor with a MJ1200. I don't use any foam, and therefore they tumble nicely with no clogging. So now am running the second Deltec the same way with another 1L of Pellets.

I know the Deltec's are more, but I can tell you that they run much better than the cheapies, and I don't have the clogging issues as most of you do, as I don't need to run any foam inside them.

No more Zeolites. I have some new in the bag if anybody needs some.

All I can say is that I love these NP BioPellets.

What can you do about the pellets rising to the top of the reactor. Currently have about 1/5 of my pellets clumped together at the top. Rest are on the bottom tumbling.

MJ 1200
TLF reactor
250ml pellets
no foam
michaels plastic mesh (stuff mentioned earlier in thread)

Thanks,
TW

Tyler,

Some of the pellets seem to be more buoyant at first and in short order fall back down.

bio-pellets
 

Hello Ian
How would i go about picking up a bag of these pellets ?? I would like to give it a try ..and how much
Thanks Shawn

We suggest soaking the Pellets in really warm water for a few hours before placing them in your reactor, as the pellets are being soaked give the container a shake every once and a while, this will dislodge all of the bubbles that stick to the pellets. New Pellets have some of the manufacturing dust on them which causes the bubbles to stick which in turn causes floating and clumping issues.

Hope this helps!

Shawn,

We have two sizes normally available 1000ml and 500ml, the amounts of Pellets to run is a matter of opinion and or trial but not error, you cannot overdose the Pellets. I would suggest you take a peak at our website for pricing on the Pellets, you are also welcome to give us a call so we can make arrangements to get some into your hands...

Ian
O.C.

Turn off your reactor and let them drop, then restart. You might have to do this a couple times. Mine do that to, but they will eventually drop.

Or

Maybe you have too much flow in the reactor forcing the pellets to the top, try dropping the flow

use the flow reducer
 

Tyler
use the flow reducer that comes with the tlf reactor (green on black ball valve) on the pipe between reactor and pump. shake all the pellets down to the bottom, close valve complete, then turn on pump. SLOWLY turn the valve on while shaking the reactor to get the clumps to break apart and not flow to the top. open the valve until you get them tumbling but not floating to the top.

Thanks Chin, Canadian and Ian. Couple things to try when I get home tonight.

Hey, what about me... HEHE, no worries, hopefully you work it out.

Update:

Yesterday I posted that I added a second Deltec 509 fluidizer... both were running independantly with MJ1200's powering each.

I was bored so today, I took them and made them run inline with only one MJ1200. Figured one less pump, cleaner look and of course probably even better water results out of them. The one pump works well and powers both quite nicely. Pellets are not as crazy in the tumbling, but they are tumbling quite well overall, little slower so probably better contact time with the water.

That's interesting .. I wonder if you'll find you need to step up the pump over time though.

My prediction - the first one will deplete faster as it has the nitrates and phosphates coming in. The second one will have water with zero nitrate coming in and at the very least "reduced" phosphate coming in (if not outright zero, but don't know, since I never bothered testing before/after with PO4 anyhow). But it will also have the shed mulm from the first. So it's interesting to see if it will be able to shed these or if you'll need to step up the pump.

Personally although I understand the urge to put "more! MORE!" on because they work so well .. I don't know if I think there's a benefit other than maybe you will not need to top up as much. If the reactor emits water with zero nitrate to begin with (as I found was happening even with less the recommended dosage for my water volume), then the nitrate reducing capacity is not increased with more pellets. Instead the limiting factor is then the water turnover through the reactor compared to the overall tank water. Ie., if you want "more nitrate reduction" then you actually need more water throughput with the effluent still emitting zero. In other words you're probably better off with the two reactors independent of one another, since they will be double the flowrate of one .. but with the two in series you have the same flowrate as one.

My prediction anyhow. Maybe I'm wrong..

We've got em Shawn.....at least I hope we still have some:lol:

:nono:

Ive had the pellets going in 2 of my tanks for 1 week now. Both are using a TLF reactor with a mesh mod and a maxijet 1200. Each has a little less than 500ml of pellets. Both tumble nicely... but one tank is making tons of mulm.. enough that its coating the intake and exhault tubes, which then reduces flow and the pellets stop tumbling. I clean the hoses and its fine again for a day. The only difference I see in the setups is the one that is making so much white gunk gets alot of light from the refuge... any ideas??

did anyone else find setting up there reactor a little anti-climatic?

Anyone noticing more mulm like crap coming off of their rockwork when they blow it off?

My corals seem to respond favourably to basting the rocks.

LOL, The pellets don't turn to gold when they touch salt water!:mrgreen:

You were expecting climax?!?!? :surprise:

ha! well with all the the hype around these things i guess i expected something!

Although after only running these things for a few days there have been some improvements. Patience for the win!

for the price you most definitly should recieve a " happy ending "

:lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3IVo8Q1jRw

Soooooo. I had pretty much all decided I was going to discontinue Zeovit, just hadn't pulled that particular trigger as yet.

Then the good folks at Korallen-Zucht had to go and pull THIS:
http://reefbuilders.com/2010/03/15/z...ntent=FaceBook

I dunno.. !!! Fancy coloured bag!!! Pretty darned tempting !!!

(No, I'm totally being serious here. Or at least, I'm seriously interested in at least finding out how different they really are, packaging change notwithstanding. :) )

It is "more powerful" with "new composition" .. oohh.. ahhh. :lol: That has always been one issue that I've had with zeovit, on all the packaging they mind as well write, "Contains Stuff; just use it". :lol: