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

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

they say with zeo less is more usually had a bad algae outbreak from dosing recommend levels or at least on bottle dropped back and things turning around

I agree 100%, dose recommended amounts see algae blooms, cut it back and all is good.

I personally dose Zeovit at about 75% of the recommended. Found this to be effective so far.

[BlueTang<3]

on zevoit.com you put your tank parameters and it ends up only being like 20% what they tell you to dose on the bottle saves a guy a lot of cash

[Delphinus]

For what it's worth I run 25% the recommended doses for zeovit already. It was a good start in reductions but it levelled off at two weeks at NO3=10 and hadn't decreased further and in fact I'm feeding less than when I started so I feel that the two systems in concert should be doing much better. The real kick here was when I doubled up the media's and the nitrates started increasing again. I think if you're going to do it homogeously I would cut back on the amounts or maybe do maybe more zeolites with just a thin layer of pellets.

It's OK I set out to see what would happen if I did this and now I know. I'll continue to post results as I go, one method had a pretty good run so I'll put out the same sort of run for separating and we'll see how it goes.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

For what it's worth I run 25% the recommended doses for zeovit already. It was a good start in reductions but it levelled off at two weeks at NO3=10 and hadn't decreased further and in fact I'm feeding less than when I started so I feel that the two systems in concert should be doing much better. The real kick here was when I doubled up the media's and the nitrates started increasing again. I think if you're going to do it homogeously I would cut back on the amounts or maybe do maybe more zeolites with just a thin layer of pellets.

It's OK I set out to see what would happen if I did this and now I know. I'll continue to post results as I go, one method had a pretty good run so I'll put out the same sort of run for separating and we'll see how it goes.

Wow!!! BlueTang 20%

Tony 25%, I am going to start rethinking things here. I am into saving some $$$$

Thanks for the heads up guys!!!

[Delphinus]

It's not just the $$$ savings (which is nice of course) but I think the tank reacts better also. If I actually do the recommended dosage per volume for one day I will notice a slight film algae over everything the next day.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

It's not just the $$$ savings (which is nice of course) but I think the tank reacts better also. If I actually do the recommended dosage per volume for one day I will notice a slight film algae over everything the next day.

I do have that, always had... I just replaced my zeolites, so I am in the process of my 10 day zeobak and food dosage. But I am cutting that back also as per you guys.

when I start dosing everything else, I will cut way back. Maybe this film will be gone for good.

I can say the my skimmate has changed from a green to a very brown color. A good sign of lack of algae.

[Delphinus]

Quick update. About a week ago I separated the pellets and put them into a phosban reactor, fed by a Maxijet 1200, throttled back on the reactor (not quite full bore on the pump).

I was optimistic that this would be a beneficial change, however, I am simply astonished at the results a week later.

Last week my nitrate reading was 10, as it had been for several weeks prior.

This week, my nitrate reading is bouncing between 3 and 4 (splitting the difference, let's call that 3.5). WOW.

But it gets better. I tested the effluent of the pellet reactor as well as the zeovit reactor:
- The zeolites are pulling nitrate down, the effluent has a reading of 2 for nitrate.
- The pellets have an effluent reading of zero (specifically, "under-range" on the meter, which means <1.0).

[nlreefguy]

but how are your corals doing? In your opinion is the mulm from the biopellets significant as a food source for the corals?

[banditpowdercoat]

How much tumbling do you have in the Phos reactor? And did you use the top foam? I have mine fed off my return pump, so am not sure about the flow. They tumble inside. Any more flow and 'm afraid the pellets would float out the reactors top plate holes and into the sump. Which probably wouldnt hurt, as have a screen on pump intake that is to fine for them to fit through LOL

[Chin_Lee]

Tony - any noticeable difference in PE on your SPS or LPS? I'm starting to ponder the use of this........