N/P Reducing Pellets ("Solid Vodka") - "Wow" ... 3 month update

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Life has special ways of surviving in adverse conditions, think of the algae that grows on the edge of a water fall. Sure as heck alot of flow there yet it still thrives, besides I was under the impression that the pellets worked by releasing a dissolved carbon source into the water. If that's true you are capitilising on the bacteria growth all over your tank and not just in the reactor.

On that note I just upgraded my pump so the pellets are really flying around, Rick you might be right in giving them some time to produce bacteria but I figure the more flow the more dissolved carbon = more bacteria in the tank = More colonization of all surface area.

Just my 2 cents.

Well, I can tell you this, my newest bags of NP BioPellets explain the same thing as I just outlined prior... Also much more research out there on this now. So I outline this because NP is now telling me this, research from others also supports it.

Again, my 2 cents also... I base it on what the manufacturer and research dictates, and from what I see in results.

If you have any newer bags of NP Pellets, look for a sheet of paper in the bag, believe it or not they do now have instructions outlining use.

[globaldesigns]

Let me also outline a test I did a couple of times. This test was done to see if it had any good or bad results with the use of the NP BioPellets.

As instructed, I have the export from the reactors at the intake of the skimmer. This is to remove any excessive bacterial mulm and to re-oxygenate the water as the bacterial growth does use up oxygen in the water. My interpretation may not be 100% correct, but it is something like that.

Anyways, I added a filter sock to the export from the reactors, and found that the sock itself would filter more when the flow of the reactor was slower than faster (meaning I had to change the sock more often when slower tumbling). So does this indicate better bacterial growth? I would think so, and the filter is taking more out, as there is more.

Just wanted to give you all this example, I think it does tell a story on how better the pellets may work with slower tumbling/flow.

Also, can anybody also state they got the instructions in the bag on the newer bags. Reason I ask is that many people are failing with these pellets, but in my opinion, failing because of not using them properly. So lets try to settle on proper usage and move forward with it.

I don't have a scanner anymore, as I just upgraded to windows 7, so my scanner went to the recycle bin, but if someone can scan the paper that is in the bags, and then post it up, it would be very beneficial to everyone.

[globaldesigns]

I found a link that has the instructions that are coming in the NPX bags, this is the same as what I got in mine.

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/npx-bio-beads/

In the above link go half way down the page, in the blue box is the actual instructions. Please note it says "are best used within a fluidized reactor with enough flow to keep the top layer of Beads tumbling aggressively". I am trying to find some of the research articles I found, if I can find them again, I will paste for your reading enjoyment.

Edit: here is a Link to a great article by Grumpy Old Reefer
http://grumpyreefer.net/2010/02/08/n...-story-so-far/

[Zoaelite]

Thanks for the info Rick, I might turn down the flow if I see anything funky going on in the tank. It's hard to tell the magnitude of them working on my system because I run a few different nitrate sinks.

Do you know if any of the other brands come with instructions like this? I know everyone has taken a swing at producing these pellets now, if running them correctly is the key to success I would hope company's are detailing this comprehensibly.

First time hearing about an instruction insert for the NP-Biopellets.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Thanks for the info Rick, I might turn down the flow if I see anything funky going on in the tank. It's hard to tell the magnitude of them working on my system because I run a few different nitrate sinks.

Do you know if any of the other brands come with instructions like this? I know everyone has taken a swing at producing these pellets now, if running them correctly is the key to success I would hope company's are detailing this comprehensibly.

First time hearing about an instruction insert for the NP-Biopellets.

That is the problem, until recently I was flying by the seat of my pants on these also. Fast flow, slow flow, up and down and I didn't know what to do. The instruction pamphlet was a shock to me when I opened the bag, as I wasn't expecting it. Then the lack of people reviews when these first came out, didn't help either.

From what I see, most brands don't detail how to use. The NPX instructions are in the NPX bags, but not in my original NP bags... I have enough pellets of both old and new to last me 5 years or more.

I am also tempted to do what Grumpy Old Reefer did. He had his pellets in a 10 Gallon pail. He found more pellets and greater surface area worked better. I run 2 reactors, but technically 2 seperate sources. So if I take the same amount of pellets (dump both reactors into one pail) and work it the same way, will the results be even BETTER! It makes me wonder.

I hope what I found helps you and others. I look forward to hearing about your results also.

[purelife]

My biggest problem the first few days of running it is tweaking the reactor and messing with it. Didn't help that it was my off week at work so every hour i was running down and messing with something on it turning it up then turning it down thinking it would work some magic

Even this morning woke up 4am to get ready for work i had to run down and take a look to make sure they are still tumbling to my liking haha.. Oh well I'm working 12s the next 3 days, i should be able to stay hands off for now.

But i agree with lack of in-depth product review there is no real set standard on how to run the system some people say aggressive some say more passive slow some say tumbling slow.

[purelife]

So i am convinced that either i am doing something really wrong or i have a bad batch of pellets.

I put the reactor back online Tuesday during the day and instantly my skimmer stops skimming can't create a foam head just rapid bubble popping.
Figured that maybe the pellets just needed to work in a few days this morning still the same thing going on.

If i take the reactor offline in about 1-4 hours the skimmer will kick in again and start to skim like a beast. They are the only thing that have changed in the tank nothing else, so its either me or the pellets i am thinking the pellets since as soon as i introduce them it kills the skimmer.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by purelife

So i am convinced that either i am doing something really wrong or i have a bad batch of pellets.

I put the reactor back online Tuesday during the day and instantly my skimmer stops skimming can't create a foam head just rapid bubble popping.
Figured that maybe the pellets just needed to work in a few days this morning still the same thing going on.

If i take the reactor offline in about 1-4 hours the skimmer will kick in again and start to skim like a beast. They are the only thing that have changed in the tank nothing else, so its either me or the pellets i am thinking the pellets since as soon as i introduce them it kills the skimmer.

Here is an article:

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/np-b...lling-skimmer/

You might have a bad batch of pellets, but it states the skimmer should resume.

[Dyspnea]

Well I've joined the club , I just setup up my new Vertex reactor. Hoping for some good results.

[Cameron]

I've deceided to give them another shot....

This time using much less pellets,, have a fast tumble going, skimmer is pulling well..

Hair algae growth is back...WTF?

Thank goodneed I have the sea hare.