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

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Thanks for the info Rick, I might turn down the flow if I see anything funky going on in the tank. It's hard to tell the magnitude of them working on my system because I run a few different nitrate sinks.

Do you know if any of the other brands come with instructions like this? I know everyone has taken a swing at producing these pellets now, if running them correctly is the key to success I would hope company's are detailing this comprehensibly.

First time hearing about an instruction insert for the NP-Biopellets.

That is the problem, until recently I was flying by the seat of my pants on these also. Fast flow, slow flow, up and down and I didn't know what to do. The instruction pamphlet was a shock to me when I opened the bag, as I wasn't expecting it. Then the lack of people reviews when these first came out, didn't help either.

From what I see, most brands don't detail how to use. The NPX instructions are in the NPX bags, but not in my original NP bags... I have enough pellets of both old and new to last me 5 years or more.

I am also tempted to do what Grumpy Old Reefer did. He had his pellets in a 10 Gallon pail. He found more pellets and greater surface area worked better. I run 2 reactors, but technically 2 seperate sources. So if I take the same amount of pellets (dump both reactors into one pail) and work it the same way, will the results be even BETTER! It makes me wonder.

I hope what I found helps you and others. I look forward to hearing about your results also.

[purelife]

My biggest problem the first few days of running it is tweaking the reactor and messing with it. Didn't help that it was my off week at work so every hour i was running down and messing with something on it turning it up then turning it down thinking it would work some magic

Even this morning woke up 4am to get ready for work i had to run down and take a look to make sure they are still tumbling to my liking haha.. Oh well I'm working 12s the next 3 days, i should be able to stay hands off for now.

But i agree with lack of in-depth product review there is no real set standard on how to run the system some people say aggressive some say more passive slow some say tumbling slow.

[purelife]

So i am convinced that either i am doing something really wrong or i have a bad batch of pellets.

I put the reactor back online Tuesday during the day and instantly my skimmer stops skimming can't create a foam head just rapid bubble popping.
Figured that maybe the pellets just needed to work in a few days this morning still the same thing going on.

If i take the reactor offline in about 1-4 hours the skimmer will kick in again and start to skim like a beast. They are the only thing that have changed in the tank nothing else, so its either me or the pellets i am thinking the pellets since as soon as i introduce them it kills the skimmer.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by purelife

So i am convinced that either i am doing something really wrong or i have a bad batch of pellets.

I put the reactor back online Tuesday during the day and instantly my skimmer stops skimming can't create a foam head just rapid bubble popping.
Figured that maybe the pellets just needed to work in a few days this morning still the same thing going on.

If i take the reactor offline in about 1-4 hours the skimmer will kick in again and start to skim like a beast. They are the only thing that have changed in the tank nothing else, so its either me or the pellets i am thinking the pellets since as soon as i introduce them it kills the skimmer.

Here is an article:

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/np-b...lling-skimmer/

You might have a bad batch of pellets, but it states the skimmer should resume.

[Dyspnea]

Well I've joined the club , I just setup up my new Vertex reactor. Hoping for some good results.

[Cameron]

I've deceided to give them another shot....

This time using much less pellets,, have a fast tumble going, skimmer is pulling well..

Hair algae growth is back...WTF?

Thank goodneed I have the sea hare.

[Dyspnea]

I have a couple questions.

I've been running vertex pellets for the last 7 days. I started with 500ml (150gallon net water volume) The pellets are tumbling nicely, never had any clouding of my water.

Right from the start my skimmer went crazy, I had too adjust my skimmer and it is now it's max setting. The skimmate is wet and black and the bubbles just don't have the surface tension they used too.

I read that my skimmer was suppose to return to normal with in several hours to usually two days later, however I also read that "nitrate and phosphate locking" could cause a more lengthy break in period, due to old live rock (which i have plenty of)

I haven't lost any livestock, I haven't had an algae outbreak, the tank looks good overall.

Anything I should really be concerned of at this point? Should I remove some of my pellets?