Bio-pellets I quit you!

[GMGQ]

I did this mod to both of my TLF150 reactors and the difference has been NIGHT AND DAY:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...8&postcount=24

You can just gently twist off the bottom red plate, then glue the rest of the tubing together into the lid. Be sure to put a knitting mesh above the top red plate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnFv...layer_embedded

(i've put in more pellets since then, the reactors are 3/4 full now).

I'm only running a MJ1200 and MJ900, and they're both choked back with 1/2" valves. 550gph sounds like major overkill!


Also regarding your clumping, it's probably due to air bubbles stuck against the pellets. My reactors are hanging on the side of the sump, so I just lift out the bottom half of the reactor, let go, and let it bang against the sump. This shakes up the reactor and releases a bunch of the micro bubbles, and reduces clumping. Short of that, you have to give it more time! If you're only waiting an hour before cracking it open and stirring it, you're just injecting more bubbles when the pump starts up again. Shake up the reactor to loosen up the bubbles, and let it tumble for 1-2 weeks. If you have enough flow (which you must, with 550gph), then the clumps will slowly disappear. PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER.

Originally Posted by blacknife

getting really ****ed off at the constant clumping in TLF 150 with a 550 gph powerhead pushing it.

regular cyano outbreaks. but hey i had cyano before i had pellets.

I am sure if the dammed things would just keep tumbling they would work great but every day i have to take the thing apart and stir all the white grossness up to get them tumbling again only to have them all mostly stuck again in an hour.

any ideas how to make a tlf reactor work better?
bah probably just scrap the thing and run the tank without for a bit. considering zeo but buying anything for the tank lately falls into spousal fury territory.

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by GMGQ

I did this mod to both of my TLF150 reactors and the difference has been NIGHT AND DAY:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...8&postcount=24

You can just gently twist off the bottom red plate, then glue the rest of the tubing together into the lid. Be sure to put a knitting mesh above the top red plate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnFv...layer_embedded

(i've put in more pellets since then, the reactors are 3/4 full now).

I'm only running a MJ1200 and MJ900, and they're both choked back with 1/2" valves. 550gph sounds like major overkill!

see that flow rate looks perfect to me.

[GMGQ]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

see that flow rate looks perfect to me.

Thanks.

The other important note is to direct the output from the reactor to the intake of your protein skimmer pump. I used zip ties to hold up the tubing so that it's about an inch away from the skimmer intake, so that the output will get sucked into the skimmer.

Too much excess bacteria floating into your tank can lead to the bacteria lingering in low flow areas of your tank.

[cwatkins]

I'm going to have to do that extra mod to my TLF150 now! Never thought of removing the bottom red part. It should help my tumbling a lot!

Just going to mention that last time I tested my Po4 (w/ Hanna Checker) was at 0.09ppm and my polyp extension is super crazy!

[GMGQ]

Tip: When inserting the new modded middle tube into the reactor chamber with biopellets inside already, shove it in, screw the lid back on, hold the reactor sideways, then take a rigid tube and poke down into the middle tube to clear out the pellets stuck inside. If you dont, then when you hook up the pump, it will be totally blocked and nothing will come out of the tube. Maybe even squirt some water into it to clear the blockage.

Originally Posted by cwatkins

I'm going to have to do that extra mod to my TLF150 now! Never thought of removing the bottom red part. It should help my tumbling a lot!

Just going to mention that last time I tested my Po4 (w/ Hanna Checker) was at 0.09ppm and my polyp extension is super crazy!