Weigh in with your experiences with biopellets or vodka dosing

[cwatkins]

Someone I know actually uses both methods. BioPellets and Vodka dosing.

[daniella3d]

MOst of the crash I have seen are from people going to fast and creating a bacteria bloom and that endup up killing all the fish usually from lack of oxygen in the tank.

So what ever you do, go very very slowly.

[Bblinks]

Why don't you give Paul form oceanic corals a call, he has experience on both systems, he is currently running both on his systems.

[Parker]

I've used both with success, I found the bio pellets the better option for me only from a time investment standpoint. You really can forget about biopellets and let the do their thing.

[Bblinks]

Originally Posted by Parker

I've used both with success, I found the bio pellets the better option for me only from a time investment standpoint. You really can forget about biopellets and let the do their thing.

Parker, do you by chance dose any bacteria source? I am adding zeobak so it doesn;t case a monstrain of bacteria. Also when you are running the pellets, do you also use a phosphate absorbing material like rowaphos or do you soley rely on the pellets?

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

Parker, do you by chance dose any bacteria source? I am adding zeobak so it doesn;t case a monstrain of bacteria. Also when you are running the pellets, do you also use a phosphate absorbing material like rowaphos or do you soley rely on the pellets?

Ya, I've been tossing this idea around too. I already dose MB7 too help with the new set up and so I was considering keeping that going with whatever carbon source. I think some of the big reasons why ULNS fail is the development of bacterial monocultures.

I've also been debating having my TLF reactor run rowaphos or GFO forthe phosphates. I know people recommend not doing this so that there are phosphates to support the bacteria, but I don't think, at least from what I've been reading, that the bacteria handles enough of the phosphates.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

Parker, do you by chance dose any bacteria source? I am adding zeobak so it doesn;t case a monstrain of bacteria. Also when you are running the pellets, do you also use a phosphate absorbing material like rowaphos or do you soley rely on the pellets?

For the moment I'm running BP's alone, but I have been considering suplementing them. No phosphate removing material either, last night my No3 was 2.5 and Phos was 0. I feed pretty heavy and I don't rinse the food before dumping it into the tank.

[Baldy]

I have been using biopellets in my 75g for over 6 months now. I dont have a heavy load either fish or corals, but they have kept nitrates and phosphates undetectable on my test kits. just dont make the bonehead mistake i made about a month ago and replace all the biopellets. from what ive been told you just top them off every so often. i didnt have the cloudy water like some get, but cyano definately took hold.