Taking the plunge with biopellets

[Maverick00]

anyone know why they say to soak the pellets in RO water overnight before adding it to the reactor?

i have 200ml in a TLF w/ maxijet1200 and wanting to add abit more. Is the idea to keep the same amount of pellets in the reactor as they get consumed?

[Funky_Fish14]

David Schindler was lecturing in my class a couple weeks ago about eutrophication in lakes, excess nutrients, oil sands, and other such issues. Anyways... I pulled a slide here from the powerpoint he provided us (was one of the quickest ones i could find with some of the consumption ratios). I know its not exactly what you guy are looking for... but here the number suggests that for algaes and cyanobacterias. Gives you an idea of the consumption rates. (This indicates that most 'plants' or algaes (which are not true plants)) need at least 7:1 N:P ratios present. Obviously, cyano being a bacteria (though developed slighly differently than the bacteria we aim for in our reactors), will represent a 'somewhat' similar consumption rate. (also, since we are providing a 'carbon/food source' for bacteria that consumes excess nutrients... naturally this would benefit cyano, which is certainly probable cause for cyano outbreaks. Another reason why 'taking it slowly' would be important (so your 'good bacteria' get settled in/multiply before the cyano can take-off).

Anyways i'll shut up. Here is the slide:




Actually starting my pellet reactor in my system tonight. (its been running with R/O water in a pail for 5 days). My system is about 120gal... I bought 500ml, and am going to start with around 100-200.

Cheers,

Chris

(And obviously confirming the source is reliable... its David Schindler )