Biodigest + biopellets

MarkoD · #1 07-18-2013, 10:16 PM

I may add a little more. But my bio load is pretty small for the water volume.

daplatapus · #2 07-19-2013, 02:08 AM

Do you have any nitrate or phosphate issues? Not sure why you'd use this product if you don't... just curious.

Myka · #3 07-19-2013, 02:38 AM

I use biopellets, BioDigest, and BiOptim on my 90-gallon SPS reef. I started 50 mL biopellets on June 8th, and added 50 mL more at the end of July. Just this week I'm seeing results which was 5 1/2 weeks of use.

What issue are you trying to solve?

MarkoD · #4 07-19-2013, 03:08 AM

I don't have issues with anything. I'm trying to maintain it.

kien · #5 07-19-2013, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I don't have issues with anything. I'm trying to maintain it.

If you don't have any issues, and you don't see any changes after using these products, then doesn't that suggest that they are working at maintaining the status quo in your tank?

MarkoD · #6 07-19-2013, 04:09 AM

Well my parameters are below detectable levels. But I still have some brown algae. I was hoping the biopellets would at least resolve that. But nothing yet. Maybe not enough time has passed

Myka · #7 07-19-2013, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I don't have issues with anything. I'm trying to maintain it.

If there is nothing to resolve, then what changes are you looking for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Well my parameters are below detectable levels. But I still have some brown algae. I was hoping the biopellets would at least resolve that. But nothing yet. Maybe not enough time has passed

Ah ha!! So, you're trying to resolve the brown algae. It does take some time, and I think some elbow grease will help speed things along. Undetectable nitrate and phosphate tests mean nothing when there is visible algae growing. Essentially, the biopellets (or other carbon dosing method) compete with the algae for nutrients and should win. You have almost double the biopellets per gallon that I do. I would just wait a couple more weeks before adding any more biopellets. If you add too many biopellets at once or you come to have too many biopellets for the demand of the system you will more than likely get cyano.

mrhasan · #8 07-19-2013, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Well my parameters are below detectable levels. But I still have some brown algae. I was hoping the biopellets would at least resolve that. But nothing yet. Maybe not enough time has passed

Diatom you mean? Biopellets won't help with that since it doesn't take up silicate :P Only time will heal that.

daplatapus · #9 07-19-2013, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I don't have issues with anything. I'm trying to maintain it.

Uhm, maybe this is a bit simplistic, but if you had no issues, weren't you keeping it that way already?

I looked into this stuff too, talked to the rep and a couple dealers, and it came down to this: the product helps build bacterial populations to take care of nitrate and phosphate that are not being controlled by other means. If there are no phosphate or nitrate issues in a tank, these products will have little effect.
I ask this to learn ( because lord knows I don't know much

) not to offend:

What results are you expecting? What would you see for you to say its working?