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

banditpowdercoat · #1 01-15-2010, 01:37 PM

What kind of meter you using Tony? That amount of testing would have used a whole Salfert kit LOL. I HATE using the kit's

I love my PH meter, but my PH barely moves, so I don't need it really HAHAHA

Delphinus · #2 01-15-2010, 05:03 PM

I use a Pinpoint nitrate monitor. Yeah I hate colour comparison based test kits because I don't know if I'm looking at them in the right light or whatever. Titration ones (ie., where you drip something and count the drops or measure the volume dispensed until you see a colour change are a little better, because apparently I'm not colourblind enough that I can't tell the difference between red and blue, but apparently I am colourblind enough to not see the difference between one pink and another pink).

globaldesigns · #3 01-15-2010, 07:47 PM

Just an update from me.

Wow!!!! I can say the mulm is ridiculous, much more than just running zeolites. I am with Tony and running about half of the recommended of both Pellets and Zeolites.

When I pump the reactor it is like I dosed Coral Snow, lots of mulm and cloudy for a bit.

My wife stated last night, "your tank is becoming more colorful". I didn't ask her about it, she just commented. So I will give Kudos to the NP Bio Pellets.

And it has only been a couple weeks, I can't wait to see what happens in the future.

OceanicCorals-Ian- · #4 01-15-2010, 08:48 PM

Excellent results. Our newest order arrived today so they will be shipping out to everyone Monday. Those with back orders will also be looked after.

Ian

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

Just an update from me.

Wow!!!! I can say the mulm is ridiculous, much more than just running zeolites. I am with Tony and running about half of the recommended of both Pellets and Zeolites.

When I pump the reactor it is like I dosed Coral Snow, lots of mulm and cloudy for a bit.

My wife stated last night, "your tank is becoming more colorful". I didn't ask her about it, she just commented. So I will give Kudos to the NP Bio Pellets.

And it has only been a couple weeks, I can't wait to see what happens in the future.

purplepolypeater · #5 01-19-2010, 11:52 AM

is anyone testing phosphates as well? afterall this product claims to reduce both and i am very interested in using this soon if the results prove fruitful.

Delphinus · #6 01-19-2010, 05:40 PM

Unfortunately I decided not to bother with phosphate testing. I always get a zero phosphate reading when I do a test, but I do get non-zero nitrate readings, so I chose to focus on what I can actually track. I don't know why it is that I always test out at zero for phosphate. I feed fairly heavy so you'd think there would be some, but I've used all different kinds of test kits and even a meter and the results are always the same. It could be the ball of chaeto I grow in the sump does a better job of sucking up PO4 than it does NO3.. that's the only theory I have on that.

For what it's worth it is on the eve of day 28 here, so I might as well post the NO3 numbers I got this morning. The tank seems to have clamped itself at 10 in the last week. I got a few readings of 7 on the weekend but they were sporadic readings, ever since then I can't get a reading of sub-10.

So I think what's happened is the pellets and tank have hit upon the equilibirium point seeing as it hasn't really dropped below 10 in any significant sense in the last two weeks. In other words, the amount they are able to reduce are matched with the amount the tank can produce. I had been using half the recommended dosage for starters for both pellets and zeolites, just to ease the tank into things ...I think it's time that I up the amounts to the recommended dosages and see how it continues on from there. So that will be this week's project.

Lance · #7 01-19-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplepolypeater

is anyone testing phosphates as well? afterall this product claims to reduce both and i am very interested in using this soon if the results prove fruitful.

I never bother testing for phosphates. I've always got a "0" reading on both Salifert & Elos kits. I know there are phosphates in the system bound up in the rock, algae, etc. I find you need a top grade tester to measure phosphates.

Delphinus · #8 01-19-2010, 05:47 PM

Oh FWIW, another observation. Some of my fish seem to enjoy eating the mulm. So it's not just coral food, it's fish food too.

The mulm production is INSANE. I hope it's doing good for inhabitants because there is a lot of it and it does increase your skimmer output. So the downside is more work, the filter socks need cleaning twice as often and the skimmer needs cleaning more often as well. Wish I had a wetneck skimmer.

OceanicCorals-Ian- · #9 01-19-2010, 06:12 PM

We have just received another order of Pellets, they are ready to ship!

banditpowdercoat · #10 01-19-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplepolypeater

is anyone testing phosphates as well? afterall this product claims to reduce both and i am very interested in using this soon if the results prove fruitful.

I will test PO4 as well. I am leaving for home today, will test and start my own thread for ease and less clutter. I am sure I have some PO4 reading. It was .03 in Dec