Biopellets: Let's here your thoughts

[goody]

After reading through Troylee's tank crashing thread and hearing others say that biopellets may be the cause, I thought it would be interesting to see what others think about this product. This is my first posting of a poll, so hopefully it works out.

After voting, it would be nice to possibly give us information on brand of pellets you are using, for how long, and any other noticeable changes in system since you started using them.

 

[Paul_N]

Warner Marine EcoBak pellets, about 10 months. System is the same as when I dosed vodka. Loving them!

 

[goody]

Warner Marine EcoBak pellets, about 10 months. System is the same as when I dosed vodka. Loving them!

Thanks for the quick response. Do you see the poll? It is my first time trying to post one.

I've been using WM ecobak for 7 months. Getting the best growth and color from sps since I've been in the hobby. Wasn't dosing vodka, but did take my gfo offline.

 

[sf_ramsden]

I am waiting around and seeing what everyone's experiences are. So far we know of at least one bad experience (Troylee). Will be interesting to see how this one turns out. I by no means am willing to try something new that hasn't been practiced in other people's systems for extended periods of time.

 

[FishLipz]

+1 for the WM EcoBak. Have about 500mL in a TLF reactor powered with a Mag Drive 5. I was running them on my 120 for a few months and it did wonders clearing up my tank. It looked like my fish were just floating in space. I moved the reactor over to my 180 which has been up for about 6 months now. I've never had any of my tanks cleaner or clearer. I guess time will tell.

 

[Alpha Aquaculture]

Wm ecobak for 10 months on 120g tank, started with a quarter of a liter and half of it is gone now. I have less than enough flow in my reactor so the pellets come out and get cleaned every few weeks in old tank water not tap! I feed heavily and do a lot of water changes. I dose kalk at nite and have a skimmer and Ats-macro. Heavy bioload and my corals are doing great!

 

[subielover]

I have been running the WM Ecobak for approximately 8-9 months. No issues here and will continue to use them. I feed relentlessly and maintain 0 nitrates and extremely low phosphates.

 

[Alpha Aquaculture]

Dont other brands develop a film around them that can choke out the pellets. The wm are said to not do that because of their unique micro crystalline structure. Is this correct? Could be a reason why diff brands have diff results.

 

[reefer54]

Using twolittlefishes brand for about month and a haft. did have one setback, had a favia i had for three years die off, but my ascans and chalices look better than ever. and alot less film algea on the glass and overflow.

 

[PR_Reefers]

I swear I was thinking this thread was needed since I read troylee's also!!!!.... thanks for bringing it up goody!!:wink:

Personally I've been running the original N/P biopellets for around 9 mo. and all I've seen in my tank are good results but then again..... there is all those bad reviews:squigglemouth:... don't wanna:after_boom:suddenly if ya know what I mean!!

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

My real poll response should be: Interesting, planning on using some sort of carbon supplementation in my tank. Unfortunately I research things for YEARS before coming close to making a decision.

 

[skinz78]

I voted never will use them, I use the KISS method and it works for me.

 

[Troylee]

Took them offline... You guys saw why.. Maybe my efforts to not change my water had something to do with it but I can say the least I didnt have that problem with vodka fwiw...;)

 

[spscrazy]

I first tried the WM pellets got them tumbling pretty good waited & tested for about 3 1/2 months nitrates were at 20 which is where they were when I started with the WM pellets so no change except started getting some cyano. just as I was thinking of giving up I got some pellets from beadfilters.com unlike the WM pellets they are round took the WM pellets out put the new ones in after about 5 weeks decided it was time for a nitrate test read zero I couldn't believe it so tested again yep zero first time since the tank was set up 3 years ago. dunno why they worked & the MW didn't nothing in my tank was affected burnt tips etc only thing changed was way less algae and corals are getting more & more color was really happy till troylee scared the crap outta me with his crash now I'm waiting & worrying

 

[-Logzor]

I can't tell you how many posts I've seen where people are experiencing RTN and have recently began running bio-pellets. I don't think I'll ever run them. In my opinion, the manufacturer recommended amounts are 4-5x too high. Where do they come up with the amount of pellets for gallon? I am beginning to have the mentality that very small amounts of carbon dosing is the best way to operate a ULNS environment. Why are we dosing so much? One guy on another forum is having success only dosing 7 drops a day on his system, with success, which is just as good as anyone else saying that they are successfully dosing 10x as much. What's actually going on? I think it is far too difficult saying that any one standard is the best one.

 

[Troylee]

If you guys could please share your exp good and bad and what pellets it was... Not trying to bash any vendor I have had bad with atb and heard from 3 vendors the same story with ecobak fwiw...

 

[goody]

If you guys could please share your exp good and bad and what pellets it was... Not trying to bash any vendor I have had bad with atb and heard from 3 vendors the same story with ecobak fwiw...

I agree, that is why I thought this poll might be good. From your thread, Troylee, somebody mentioned to google biopellets and tank crashing/problems and there are a lot of links. Let's hear the bad experiences and good.

 

[Paul_N]

Thanks for the quick response. Do you see the poll? It is my first time trying to post one.

I've been using WM ecobak for 7 months. Getting the best growth and color from sps since I've been in the hobby. Wasn't dosing vodka, but did take my gfo offline.

I just added my vote in the pole. I didn't see it when I first posted.
I haven't run gfo for at least a year and a half.

 

[Paul_N]

Maybe my efforts to not change my water had something to do with it but I can say the least I didnt have that problem with vodka fwiw...;)

I have not done a wc since my temp setup has been running for over 9 months with the pellets.

 

[btkrausen]

I never tried them myself, but my buddy has with bad results on the WM pellets. He was running them in a Precision Marine reactor off a manifold, and it killed his tank. He took them off and everything cleared up.