O.C.'s Pellet questions and answers!
 

This is the place to ask questions an post answers for anyone already running or for those looking at adding Pellets to their system!

O.C.
#1 Source for De-nitrification Pellets

Here is the official website:

http://www.reefinterests.com/content/view/18/36/

What reactor are you using at the store?

Re: Pellet question and answers!
 

We are running a Vertex reactor at the store. Works flawless.

Wondering if I can use the 2 TLF 150's that I have to run these NP pellets.

You can with a couple mods .... I have just got mine to churn just right a couple days ago...
this is what i have done after reading other peoples trial and errors :razz: remove the bottom red plate and glued the white tube into the top red plate so it wouldnt fall out then remove the top foam so it wouldnt clog up with mulm and I have put on a 600 gph pump and my pellets are dancing happy

OK so if I am following you correctly, remove both sponge's and glue the center tube into both red ring's & use a pump that make's the pellets tumble nicely.

I think it's just glued to the top red plate, and do without the bottom red plate altogether .. :)

I just pulled one of the TLF 150's that I have apart and if you don't use the bottom red plate there would be nothing to hold the tube off the bottom of the reactor to allow water to flow into reactor.

Er.. maybe I understood wrong. :redface: But I thought that was why you need to glue the tube to the top plate. I got the impression the tube just dangles near the bottom and the pellets just fly around as a result.

I personally use the Deltec 509 Fluidizers, they are a bit more money, but need no modifications and operate flawlessly with a MJ 1200. Also you can fit about 1.3L in each.

Im surprised you need 600gph pump to power a TLF reactor or are you using 2x TLF reactors with the 600gph..


EDIT:signed in on the wrong account..should have used the oceaniccorals one haha..

unless you glue it to the top....


however i run both plates with no foam, and a layer of sewing mesh on top and the bottom. seems to do alright.

I just flipped the bottom plate over so that it was at the top and the clear tube was hanging down. It just dangles in the biopellets and moves them around that way. I still need a stronger pump though, the MJ1200 isn't cutting it (1L of pellets in a TLF550).

Anyone ever run these in a Presicion Marine reactor, I have a couple sitting around I'll be using when my order arrives? I'll be driving the reactors off a branch of my return that's pushed by a dart.

Can I see pics of your return branch? I've been thinking about doing the same to mine :biggrin:

No, no you can't! :mrgreen: Not because I don't want to show you but because it isn't fully built yet. When I plumed the tank I added a tee and a valve to the return plumbing for future implementation of a manifold to run everything. Because the tank is so lightly stocked I haven't had a need to finish it yet, but will be shortly.

You can see the tee and valve in the upper right hand side of the picture.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_2632.jpg

Nice work! Your build looks good.

Ok so, my next question is, are you running 1.5" pipe? How are you going to "ramp down" to the size required for your reactor? Would you do that at the barb fitting? I'm just wondering where along the line should I start to reduce plumbing sizes since my phosban reactor is 3/8"

On the left pipe (in the middle), is that a gate valve? Just wondering, cause if it is, they don't normally operate as well sideways, they should be placed near to the return pump and in a vertical position.

If it isn't a gate valve, what is it?

It is a gate valve but it's on my primary drain, herbie style.

I have a 4 ft sump and im running my pump from one side to the reactor on the other side where the skimmer outlet is ....my return compartment is to small for two pumps ...(plus that was the only size other then my 250pgh i had in my tickle trunk of goodies)

I've reduced from 1.5" to 1" with a bushing before the ball valve. I'll build the manifold out of 1" using 1" gate valves and then reduce as nessacary on the output of the gate valve. This way I'll still have higher flow for larger items such as the reactors needed for the pellets and I can reduce down to 1/4" if needed for lower flow applications, ie: calc. reactors.

I wish I would have put a valve upstream of the tee to reduce the flow to the tank and increase to the manifold if needed, I can retrofit later if needed.

A picture is worth a thousand words!! but this is all glued together now and then i just slide this in the reactor full of pellets works great for me ...i just couldnt get it to churn before the way it is now ....
Hope this helps ......:biggrin:

http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/a...reactor001.jpg

Wow all this trouble!!!

Ian look into getting better pricing on the deltec 509 fluidizer, believe me a better unit and no fushing, no using the foam, no cleaning, no clogging, and it holds more.

If you can get good pricing on these units, I think others would be interested in buying.

If anyone in Calgary wants to see them running, let me know, we can always arrange a viewing. They are worth the money as there is no fussing around.

We are actually a dealer for Deltec; however, we have not ventured much into the their product line much.

We can do the FR-509 reactor for $260.00, I would think that is pretty competitive! :mrgreen:

The Vertex reactor that Ian sold me works very well. No mods needed and tumbles the pellets perfectly. Not sure, but I think the Vertex is cheaper than the Deltec.

+1 and we really like the Vertex reactor; however, we can get the Deltecs if people want them. They are somewhat expensive in comparison......

Ian

What pump do you recommend for the Vertex reactor and pellets?

Perfect, I see clearly now what you where talking about. Thanks

Okay so 6 day update;

I'm a very skeptical person, as a Science student I'm constantly berated with the fact that I should never accept anything without proof. So to see people post on here that in the span of 5 days they are getting amazing results is... interesting to say the least (especially when the package says 2-4 weeks).

That being said, THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING for those of you who are hesitant take my word for $65.00 this has to be one of the best investments I have made to the fish tank and they last 6+ months for a single bag!

Right before I set up my reactor I upgraded my sump and had to move a DSB into my fuge, doing so released a large amount of dissolved nutrients and probably some hydrogen sulfide. This made for one angry tank, one of my favorite monti's melted on me and I lost 2 zoa colonies as well as some major nuisance algae and some browned out SPS.

Now it might be a combination of increased water volume and the 100 additional mangroves I added to the fuge but with the amount of mulm this thing is kicking out I'm leaning towards the NP-Biopellets accounting for my quick tank recovery. Far past recovery, in the span of 6 days my corals have never looked better! Color and polyp extension on the SPS and LPS are incredible and my zoas all look healthy and plump. Water clarity (Except when my reactor gets clogged) has never been better.

System is a 170g main tank, 70g sump, 25g frag and 29g DSB/ Mangrove fuge. I run a VERY heavy bioload (7 Tangs, 3 Anthias, 2 Blennys, 2 Clown Fish, 3 Wrasses, 2 manderins and 2 cardinals). So I think I might go out, buy another bag and a larger reactor.

A+++ Review on my behalf, I'm running 500ml of them in a TLF reactor with a MJ1200 and they are flying around in the thing. Best $65.00 I have ever spent on the reef.
Levi

Great review! Glad you are happy with the outcome.....!

O.C.

Thanks Eugene, I will post photos of the tank when I get home and will keep everyone updated as to my results. Lets just say 6 days ago when I tested my Nitrates my jaw dropped a little due to the heavy pink hue of the test kit. I have yet to re-test but will do so tonight, very excited for the results.
Levi

I don't understand why people are glueing the TLF reactor to get it working properly. I have two TLF reactors connected together on my 90 Gal, they are driven by a MJ1200 full open and everything tumbles nicely. All I did to change the reactors was to remove the foam and replace it with plastic canvas from the craft store. I just cut it the same diameter as the plate with a small hole in the center so it slides over the inner tube. The holes in the plastic canvas allow for good flow and are small enough that the pellets won't pass through. I did the exact same thing on the Vertex I am using on my 180 Gal and it works fine.

For those of you using the vertex reactor what flow rate are you using? I think I need to move mine up some.

Wide open with an MJ1200

Which model TLF reactor are you using?

And I can't understand how you get it to work without glueing (actually I did'nt glue mine I just let it hang. I did the plastic canvas thing too and a MJ1200 and the pellets aren't doing a damned thing :confused:

I was going to use my 550 as well, then read your post. Do you have it sitting in the sump so that there is no head pressure to overcome?

Yep its in the sump, I ended up removing the top plate, flipping the bottom plate over and adding a piece of mesh to the "top" plate. Seems that builds up a bit of pressure in the reactor allowing the pellets to fly around. It still requires a ridiculous amount of flow to get the pellets moving :neutral: