O.C.'s Pellet questions and answers!

[frd72]

anybody notice a different smell when your using NP bio pellets??

thanks,
teddy

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by frd72

anybody notice a different smell when your using NP bio pellets??

thanks,
teddy

YESS!! Your skimmer will stink really nasty!

[DiverDude]

Anyone have algae problems after starting pellets ?

I started getting several different types within a week of starting the pellets: red stringy stuff (cyano?) and the clear bubbles -some stuck to rock, some on the end of small tethers (like a marine buoy) (Diatoms ?) but worst of all, the Hair algae I'd finally gotten rid of is back with a vengence.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by DiverDude

Anyone have algae problems after starting pellets ?

I started getting several different types within a week of starting the pellets: red stringy stuff (cyano?) and the clear bubbles -some stuck to rock, some on the end of small tethers (like a marine buoy) (Diatoms ?) but worst of all, the Hair algae I'd finally gotten rid of is back with a vengence.

I got a little bit of cyano and some film algae but it went away after a week.

[DiverDude]

I started dosing Coral Snow a few weeks ago as well. Any chance the combination of the 2 has caused all these algae problems ?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by DiverDude

I started dosing Coral Snow a few weeks ago as well. Any chance the combination of the 2 has caused all these algae problems ?

If anything I've found coral snow helps in getting rid of algae, not causing it. I've been using it to help get rid of green and red slime algae, not that its been helping but my corals look fabulous!

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Lance

When I first began using the pellets the skimmer began to pull darker skimmate after 3 to 4 days. After about a week I noticed the skimmate increasing in volume. Very nice. I'm happy.
Now, after 5 months of use I'm noticing the skimmate changing. It is now a lighter colour and the thick skimmate collecting on the walls of the collection cup and neck are almost of a "chunky" texture with two different shades of brown. The chunks are a lighter brown than the more normal paste-like stuff. It is unlike any other skimmate I've seen. I just cleaned the skimmer tonight but will post some pics of this strange skimmate in a few days.
Anybody else notice a change in the skimmate after several months of pellet use? And if so what does it mean? There is no change in the levels of nitrates and phosphates.

Here's a pic of the lid of the skimmer cup. Not the best picture, but you get an idea of what I'm talking about. Notice the two different colours of skimmate, and you can sort of see the chunky texture.

[Cameron]

I have had the pellets for a while but really started running them last week....today the tumble really slowed down since the foam was clogged with mulm...

I turned off the reactor and cleaned the foam, but now my water is all white and the skimmer is really pulling the white foam out.

How to prevent this in the future?

[lastlight]

My buildup of film algae was starting to slow down nicely as the tank matured a little. Since starting the pellets yes the film is coming back much quicker and all sorts of different algaes are showing up. Maybe it's just me but the corals seem to be getting a tiny bit more colorful and the hair algae (it's not fine hairs more chaeto in appearance but much finer) that is growing quickly seems to be dying some too.

I'm only just past a week running them but have not seen any mulm or buildup. My water has the same clarity (quite clear but appears less so because of all my microbubbles) and my skimmate production has definitely improved.

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Cameron

How to prevent this in the future?

Either slice the sponges in half so they're thinner, or hit up Michael's or Walmart or similar and look for "quilting mesh" (about $0.75/sheet probably) and replace the sponges with that. WAY better, you won't believe the difference.