N/P Reducing Pellets ("Solid Vodka") - "Wow" ... 3 month update

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by BC Mosaic

Has anyone modified their Zeovite reactor to accomodate the pellets? I keep getting an inch or so of stuck pellets at the top while the rest is tumbling somewhat.

Actually I did that last night, removed the zeolites and put another litre of pellets in it. It doesn't work that well, I have the vertex reactor and found that even though they tumbled, over time they bunched up and stopped.

Today I went to see Danny @ Wai's to buy another Deltec 509 Fluidizer. Currently I am running 1.5L of BioPellets in that type of reactor with a MJ1200. I don't use any foam, and therefore they tumble nicely with no clogging. So now am running the second Deltec the same way with another 1L of Pellets.

I know the Deltec's are more, but I can tell you that they run much better than the cheapies, and I don't have the clogging issues as most of you do, as I don't need to run any foam inside them.

No more Zeolites. I have some new in the bag if anybody needs some.

All I can say is that I love these NP BioPellets.

[Werbo]

What can you do about the pellets rising to the top of the reactor. Currently have about 1/5 of my pellets clumped together at the top. Rest are on the bottom tumbling.

MJ 1200
TLF reactor
250ml pellets
no foam
michaels plastic mesh (stuff mentioned earlier in thread)

Thanks,
TW

[Canadian]

Tyler,

Some of the pellets seem to be more buoyant at first and in short order fall back down.

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Tyler,

Some of the pellets seem to be more buoyant at first and in short order fall back down.

We suggest soaking the Pellets in really warm water for a few hours before placing them in your reactor, as the pellets are being soaked give the container a shake every once and a while, this will dislodge all of the bubbles that stick to the pellets. New Pellets have some of the manufacturing dust on them which causes the bubbles to stick which in turn causes floating and clumping issues.

Hope this helps!

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

What can you do about the pellets rising to the top of the reactor. Currently have about 1/5 of my pellets clumped together at the top. Rest are on the bottom tumbling.

MJ 1200
TLF reactor
250ml pellets
no foam
michaels plastic mesh (stuff mentioned earlier in thread)

Thanks,
TW

Turn off your reactor and let them drop, then restart. You might have to do this a couple times. Mine do that to, but they will eventually drop.

Or

Maybe you have too much flow in the reactor forcing the pellets to the top, try dropping the flow

[Chin_Lee]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

What can you do about the pellets rising to the top of the reactor. Currently have about 1/5 of my pellets clumped together at the top. Rest are on the bottom tumbling.

MJ 1200
TLF reactor
250ml pellets
no foam
michaels plastic mesh (stuff mentioned earlier in thread)

Thanks,
TW

Tyler
use the flow reducer that comes with the tlf reactor (green on black ball valve) on the pipe between reactor and pump. shake all the pellets down to the bottom, close valve complete, then turn on pump. SLOWLY turn the valve on while shaking the reactor to get the clumps to break apart and not flow to the top. open the valve until you get them tumbling but not floating to the top.

[Werbo]

Thanks Chin, Canadian and Ian. Couple things to try when I get home tonight.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

Thanks Chin, Canadian and Ian. Couple things to try when I get home tonight.

Hey, what about me... HEHE, no worries, hopefully you work it out.

[globaldesigns]

Update:

Yesterday I posted that I added a second Deltec 509 fluidizer... both were running independantly with MJ1200's powering each.

I was bored so today, I took them and made them run inline with only one MJ1200. Figured one less pump, cleaner look and of course probably even better water results out of them. The one pump works well and powers both quite nicely. Pellets are not as crazy in the tumbling, but they are tumbling quite well overall, little slower so probably better contact time with the water.

[Delphinus]

That's interesting .. I wonder if you'll find you need to step up the pump over time though.

My prediction - the first one will deplete faster as it has the nitrates and phosphates coming in. The second one will have water with zero nitrate coming in and at the very least "reduced" phosphate coming in (if not outright zero, but don't know, since I never bothered testing before/after with PO4 anyhow). But it will also have the shed mulm from the first. So it's interesting to see if it will be able to shed these or if you'll need to step up the pump.

Personally although I understand the urge to put "more! MORE!" on because they work so well .. I don't know if I think there's a benefit other than maybe you will not need to top up as much. If the reactor emits water with zero nitrate to begin with (as I found was happening even with less the recommended dosage for my water volume), then the nitrate reducing capacity is not increased with more pellets. Instead the limiting factor is then the water turnover through the reactor compared to the overall tank water. Ie., if you want "more nitrate reduction" then you actually need more water throughput with the effluent still emitting zero. In other words you're probably better off with the two reactors independent of one another, since they will be double the flowrate of one .. but with the two in series you have the same flowrate as one.

My prediction anyhow. Maybe I'm wrong..