Best Bio-Pellets?
 

I am setting up a pellet reactor and am looking for some information on what brand of pellet to run. I have the reactor, I just have to decide on which pellets to run.

What brand pellet do you use and why? Are there any brands that I should avoid? Does it matter if I change brands everytime I fill the reactor?

Thanks.

I use Vertex pellet for a couple reasons 1: available at most LFS & online 2: suggested to me that they are the better pellet by a trusted source.

I would not switch brands once you pick one, although many people say they are all the same I have not seen an evidence of this

Do u use phosban with pellets ?

Initially I will not be running any PhosBan with the pellets. As time goes I may run a little depending on what my phosphate levels end up at but I don't think there is a need.

I've been asking people what they use lately and most say pellets and phosban.

Grizz what about you ?

I am using an algae scrubber and ATB pellets, found the vertex would break down fast and turn mushy over time. Was using gfo but it striped the water too fast.

Vertex pellets here, as stated above easily obtained from most lfs and quality that you can trusted. I also run rowaphos and carbon.

I have some GFO waiting for me to get it online but ATM no phosban or GFO. There are many AMAZING tanks on here that are running what I call the BIG 3 ( carbon, pellets & GFO ).

best pellets i have ever found are in my fish cupboard ill never use them again

Doesn't bio pellets remove phosphates? Why would you need gfo as well?

They don't remove phosphates at anywhere near the rate of nitrates
I also run vertex pellets and GFO

Does anyone know when a good time to start pellets would be? My cycle is over the ammonia hump, and I've already gotten up to 20ppm nitrate (no lights and a previously dead tank so nothing's consuming it). I'm wondering if it would be a bad idea to put my pellet reactor online now, before there's even any fish in it?

IMO you are way early. We recommend bio's on mature systems that can not keep Phosphate and Nitrate levels down naturally.

Ray