NP "Solid Vodka" Pellets - Is it Really Something New?

[globaldesigns]

I cannot comment on the Aquamedic method, however I am a NP BioPellet user and will give it a thumbs up. I am a Zeo Tank, and there are benefits to these pellets even over the Zeolites I still also use. the biggest is that the pellets do not need replacing after 6-8 weeks, you just top up your fluidizer with pellets every 6 months or so.

Now in saying this, I have a heavy bioload, my tank is beautiful but I always had one issue, and that was some algae. After using the NP BioPellets, this is the first time I can see results of algae dying off and staying away. Others like Delphinus (Tony) can testify to the results as many others.

So I would suggest using what others have already tested for you. If you choose the Aquamedic way, please let us know how things go.

[banditpowdercoat]

Never heard of the Aqua Medic's reactor before. ANd if it's like any of the other Aqua Medic product's i've used, No thanks.

I am also using the Bio pellets. Two thumbs up here as well

[kien]

Obviously the aquamedic approach failed due to inferior marketing because I have not heard of it either

I have been on the NP BioPellet bandwagon for over a month now and can report pretty much the same results as, it does work to reduce nitrates. The latest tell in my tank is the last patch of cyano that I could
not rid myelf of for the life of me. Everyone said coral snow helped with it but after 3 months coral snow it did not budge. 1 month of bio pellets an it is no more :-D

[hillbillyreefer]

Here is a pretty good link on the pros and cons of the aquamedic reactor:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...trate+reductor

Seems to me that it's a lot more screwing around than the pellets, with a much larger potential for crashing the tank. It also may be more expensive than the pellets.

I'll stick with the pellets, I don't think they are the miracle cure for everything but they are a piece of the puzzle.

[Delphinus]

I've used all kinds of nitrate reducing schemes - all kinds - the pellets are my favourite by a mile. IMO, best bang for the buck.

Couple points to consider here, at least from what I can see:

The Aquamedic reactor is a more expensive approach hands down. With the pellets, 1/2 litre and a phosban reactor and you're set - probably about $100 startup cost.

Next, the concept of an anaerobic reactor isn't anything new. Heck, you can DIY yourself a pretty functional reactor using about 100m (or maybe 100', I dunno ) of 1/4" tubing to create a feed water devoid of oxygen and drip that over bioballs, exact same thing for probably about $30 worth of materials (just search on DIY nitrate reactor, you should find a bunch of projects).

The key differences though: if you crash your anaerobic bacteria culture, you crash your nitrate reduction and have to start over. The slightest air bubble will do that. Plus, you have to have an amazingly slow feed in order for the effluent to be nitrate free, so you can imagine that they are more of a "nitrate-free maintainer" rather than a "nitrate reducer and maintainer."

Last but not least, they won't do a thing for phosphate, whereas the pellets attack both nitrates and phosphates.

These pellets are full of win in my opinion.

[Delphinus]

Oh, and the pellets come with a really cool flavour of Kool-Aid (no, just kidding .. no Kool-Aid). But all the cool kids are doing it .. come on come on .. you know you WANT to.