USING BIO PELLETS

Reefpins10 · #1 03-02-2011, 04:56 AM

I am thinking of using bio pellets to avoid doing water change. Has anyone here had any success with those bio pellets without changing water at all with no algaes growing in your tank ? I would like to hear your advice. I had someone tell me that he didn't do any water change for over 6 months and he will continue to do that, but I also had someone from 3 different LFS tell me I still need to do the water change at least once a month. Its really confusing me ! I know those pellets are for removing nitrate and phosphate, but why is it necessary to do the water changing if we use them ??? I never check my nitrate or phosphate level, I just do 20% water change every 2 weeks, but my tank still gets quite a lot of brown and green hair algae, other than that my sps corals are doing great with color.

whatcaneyedo · #2 03-02-2011, 05:09 AM

Water changes replenish trace elements that your coral use up as they grow and that skimming and running activated carbon remove.

ultreef · #3 03-02-2011, 05:10 AM

If you're keeping fish only, then i guess if the pellets keep your nitrate and phos down you technically don't have to do water change.

If you have corals, especially SPS then there's no way around the water change. Water changes not only keeps nutrients low but IT ALSO REPLENISH ELEMENTS that corals need that can't be dose manually.

Reefpins10 · #4 03-02-2011, 05:22 AM

As you guys say, that means I don't have any alternative to avoid the water change

. I really hate this task.

Bloodasp · #5 03-02-2011, 05:33 AM

Nobody does. But it's just a task you have to do if you wanna keep a healthy system.

Funky_Fish14 · #6 03-02-2011, 06:18 AM

Tell us more about your system, and maybe we can suggest ways to help reduce the maintenance you have to do! Unfortunately though, as mentioned, waterchanges are still important and necessary, even if extremely infrequent.

Please tell us:

-System size (including tanks/any filtration systems)
-Filtration equipment (eg; refugium, skimmer, hang on filters, powerheads, etc...)
-Lighting
-Livestock (corals and fish - how much live rock?)
-Regular maintenance performed?
-How long has it been up and running?
-Feeding?(what/how often?)

These will be a great start to help get some feedback on your system!

And yes, still need waterchanges with biopellets! Stuff may break down, but over time you just increase the concentration of excess nutrients in the water... waterchanges are pretty much 'the' Way to get that stuff out.

Cheers,

Chris

Funky_Fish14 · #7 03-02-2011, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodasp

Nobody does. But it's just a task you have to do if you wanna keep a healthy system.

- Actually, I love doing waterchanges on my freshwater tanks

Reefpins10 · #8 03-02-2011, 07:16 AM

I have a 65 gallon tank, it has been running for about 3 years now with no sand. Most of my stuff are SPS corals and a sebae anemone, no LPS but I have quite a lot of red and blue mushroom hitchhiker on the rock from the bigger tank I had shut down more than 10 years ago. I have more than a hundred lbs of rocks including what is in the 40 gallon sump, and in the small refugium I have 2 inches of sand. I am having the ASM G3 protein skimmer, but I am going to change to a bigger one in the future. My main tank has 2 tunze that are over 3000 GPH together, and 3 Maxi Jet 1200. The return pump is the Eheim 600GPH. Lots of flow, my corals love it. I only use 1-400W 20000K and chnage the bulb every 8 months, and keep it turned on 10 hours a day. I feed my fish Mysis in the morning and brine shrimp in the evening. I tried to feed them pellets and flakes but have had no success. I know the frozen foods are making my phosphate level high but my fish are more important. I like to spoil them and have a fatty look (like me)

I feed my corals with Marine Snow twice a week as recommended. I also use Koral Color once a week.
Anything wrong here about my set up please let me know.

whatcaneyedo · #9 03-02-2011, 02:04 PM

Do you thaw and then strain your frozen food before you feed? You're adding a lot of phosphate to your tank each time if you don't which would be contributing to the algae problem you describe.

Reefpins10 · #10 03-02-2011, 04:06 PM

Yes, I thaw it then rinse it well in tap water in a small drainer, then I let the drainer sit on the paper towel in a few minutes to suck all the water out before I feed the fish. I used to do that to feed my fish in the fish only tank with live rock in last 10 years too, and I never had problems with algae. This is my first coral tank and I don't have very much experience with sps coral, for me 3 years is nothing and I am still learning.