To add a biopellet reactor or not??
 

I have a 60 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump. It is a mixed reef primarily with SPS corals. In terms of bioload it is in the medium range. I currently run a reef octopus nwb110 skimmer (I believe its rated up to 100 gallons by manufactuerer and BRS recommends it up to 75gallons). I also am running carbon and GFO in a single reactor, as well as dosing Kalk, Calcium and Alkalinity.

Paramaters are as follows:

Salinity 1.026
Calcium 430
Alk 9Dkh
Mag 1400
PH 8.1-8.3
Nitrates 5 (according to saliferet)
Phosphates 0 (according to ELOS)

Now im wondering if my tank would benefit from a biopellet reactor. Im really not into dosing carbon daily as i just dont have the time for it. I know my phosphates are deffinatley in the 0 range however would my tank benefit by lowering my nitrates?

If i do go for biopellets should i cease using GFO and if so should i do it a period of time before starting biopellets?

In terms of a reactor i was thinking of going with the Vertex 1.5 reactor it actually comes with 500ml of vertex bio pellets as well, and well I can get it locally at my LFS.

I would give it a try, I don't know what the Vertex reactor goes for but you may be able to save a few bucks by getting a TLF-150 Phosban and the plastic inserts and the TLF NPX Pellets. I am running that know and have no probs and the Cyno that I had is gone now. I have ordered a CAD lights Conic reactor and looking forward to trying it out. Anyhow make sure you follow directions on the Pellets, and good luck!

All the best.

Mike

If you are happy with how your tank is doing at this very moment then I wouldn't change a single thing if I were you. Why try to fix something that isn't broken ?

What he said^

I have a 50-55g with a 10g sump and I have a Med->Heavy Bio load and am using the same skimmer as the original poster. I am using Bio-Pellets and Rowa and things are great... no looking back...

I am using a TLF Phosban 150 & have cut the central post about 2/3 the way down and secured it with plumbers tape. As well as the mesh to keep them in. I have a larger than normal pump but that way they dont clump. no regrets and the reactor was only a few bucks... whole thing was less than a hundred bucks...

Vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7LZExaMrA

if it aint broke dont fix it

C:N:P
 

I believe adding biopellets will reduce your nitrates, but you might experience a rise in phosphates. Remember the Redfield ratio is 106:16:1. You mess with one and another of the three might become the limiting factor. Adding biopellets (C source) will help you lower N for sure. But you will still need phosban to lower phosphates.

I run both biopellets and ROWAphos and I'm happy with my tank. Just start small, and increase the amount of biopellets gradually.

to be honest with you your parameters a fine , if anything i would look at dosing vodka or vinegar that ways you can fine tune it to the available nutrients and quit/restart at any given time based on your parameters. both of which results can be seen in as little as a week. the red field ratio isnt exact , in fact it wasn't geared towards our household system or how we carbon dose a reef , in general its just a guide line to show how bacteria consumes and absorbs c/n/p so i wouldn't take it to heart.

all in all though your parameters are spot on , if anything i would tweak them slightly and slowly over time:)

cheers

denny