These NP-Bio Pellets seem to be all the rage. Gotta keep up with the Jone's right? So I ordered a batch with Tony to try out. Like everyone else, I'm curious to see how well they work. My current Phosphate control method of choice is a TLF Phosban reactor stuffed with Rowaphos. Personally I don't really know if it is doing anything since my test kit never seems to read anything and the chaeto in my 'fuge doesn't seem to grow all that well. Nevertheless, like a good reefkeeper I run it.
Here it is, a bag off NP Bio Lentils (as Tony likes to call them).
I am actually quite happy to be rid of the Rowaphos as it is quite a bother to set up each month. The emptying, cleaning, disposing, refilling, rinsing.. what a pain! And messy to boot.
These biopellets are great. No rinsing, they are easy to manage, just open bag and dump into canister. Plus they dissolve so there's no cleanup after use. Easy peasy!
Out with the old in with the new!
And here's my one two punch, carbon and bio lentils daisy chained.
I've decided to run about 600ml to start out with. There is a slight tumble of the bioPellets in the reactor.
So this evening Tony came by with his probe. We got a nitrate reading of 8 which I don't think is anything to really be concerned about but certainly not zero like my test kit likes to try to tell me.
Parameters to note for testing purposes:
Nitrate: 8 (with Pinpoint Meter)
Phosphate: Colourless on test kit.
Specific Gravity: 1.026
Temp: 79-81F
Ph: 7.9 - 8.3
Alk: 8.5
Calc: 420ppm
Mag: 1400ppm
* I feed a combination of formula 1&2 flakes and pellets twice a day and sometimes frozen fish mush that I make up with PE Mysis.
* I have about 18 fish that I feed, plus inverts like shrimp, crabs, starfish and various LPS that I spot feed.
* I do not currently have any nuisance algae.
* I do not run zeo or use any additives other than the odd Coral Snow once in a blue moon.
In about a week or two I will have Tony come by and probe me again to see where we're at with the readings.