144G Half Circle Mixed Reef

[Carmen]

Retested my Nitrates and they are still high...around 25. So....I picked up some NP Biopellets! Thought I better snag some from RC since I am sure they will be sold out within a few days! They were a very POPULAR item this week at the shop.
I need to do some reading on them (ie Kien and Tony's thread!) and I had planned on using a TLF reactor for now...since I have access to one.

[Delphinus]

I think they will work out nicely for you. There are two sort of key learnings I can distill out of that whole thread of mine for you:

1) The pellets need to be fluidized in your reactor, dancing and churning around all the time
2) Don't worry about the overall volume of pellets at first, just get the TLF reactor say about 1/2 full. It's more important that they are fluidized in the reactor than it is how much you have of them.

Smaller learnings maybe include:
1) Presoak the pellets overnight before using so that they're good and waterlogged, otherwise you'll have startup issues with them floating to the top
2) Cut the foam sponges in half, or go and get some quilting mesh to use instead. All you want to insure that pellets can't get to where you don't want them - but sponges are a little bit too restrictive and are also more prone to clogging over time.

Any questions with them - ask away! We're here for ya'!!!

[Carmen]

So I did indeed pick up some of the N/P Reducing Pellets from RC last week and tracked down another TLF reactor to use for now.
(And Tony I have read through 21 pages of your thread...may take me a few more days...)
I retested my nitrates today and they are still around 20.
Hooked up the reactor with a MJ1200 and giving it a go. Already noticing some clumping at the very top so I will likely have to remove some of the pellets tomorrow.


Also grabbed a Canary Wrasse since I have some pyramillid snails that I need dealt with and the last time I tried one they seemed to keep the pests in check.


Kevin treated me to a couple of Fire Shrimp...love the little guys. Thanks Kev! Couldn't get a good pic cuz they are in the back part of the rocks.


And thought I would snap a pic of my tiny little sps collection. Starting slow and easy but they are looking good so far!

[JDigital]

Very very nice..

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Carmen

(And Tony I have read through 21 pages of your thread...may take me a few more days...)

Says the girl on page 33 of her own thread

Everything is looking nice. BTW, you have wayyyy more SPS than I do. So you're now "one of them". Deny all you like. You have fuzzy sticks in your tank!!!!!!

[blueyota]

WoW lookin Good

[Carmen]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Says the girl on page 33 of her own thread

Everything is looking nice. BTW, you have wayyyy more SPS than I do. So you're now "one of them". Deny all you like. You have fuzzy sticks in your tank!!!!!!

And yet...you've read them all haven't you Tony...must be something more to mine than just pellets! JK...Your thread is jam packed full of very informative stuff...about pellets!

You know once you get a few fuzzy sticks...they kinda grow on ya! But...I don't think I'd be calling me "one of them" just yet!

Thanks Josh and Shawn!

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by Carmen

But...I don't think I'd be calling me "one of them" just yet!

Welcome to the Dark Side!

[Delphinus]

Hmm, let's see. Stage 1 ... "Denial." Check!

Congrats on sliding down that slippery slope.

PS. I have read every single page of your thread. In some cases more than once!