C in biopellets

[Peter SVK]

Hello guys,
I have question about biopellets. If we talk about biopellets like source of C. This carbon is dissolved in water and can be source of C for coral or only bacteria can use this source of C? Thank you for answer. If you have link for an article i will appreciate it. And sorry for my english ;)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s a complicated question that we do not have a perfect answer for.

the polymer in biopellets needs to be broken into monomers before it can be dissolved, and that likely happens due to bacterial enzymes in the water, maybe also on bacteria surfaces.

the released hydroxy butyrate monomer might be metabolized by corals, but I would not assume so and if it is, I expect it is a minor pathway. Bacteria sitting on the pellet surface likely get most of it.

 

[Peter SVK]

It’s a complicated question that we do not have a perfect answer for.

the polymer in biopellets needs to be broken into monomers before it can be dissolved, and that likely happens due to bacterial enzymes in the water, maybe also on bacteria surfaces.

the released hydroxy butyrate monomer might be metabolized by corals, but I would not assume so and if it is, I expect it is a minor pathway. Bacteria sitting on the pellet surface likely get most of it.

Thank you for answer ! I have 500 liters tank. Some fishes (8 pieces) and some soft corals. I run biopellets and my No3 is 0 and PO4 about 0.08 ppm. For this reason I start dosed NO3 today (very slowly) to reach redfield ratio. Do you think i need feed my soft coral especially with some coral food or only reach reach redfield ratio and feed fish ? My sarcopython is still closed few days and i tried find why :) Im begginer in coral keeping.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would target 2-10 ppm nitrate, no matter what the Redfield ratio recommends.

I might remove some or all of the biopellets.

 

[Peter SVK]

I would target 2-10 ppm nitrate, no matter what the Redfield ratio recommends.

I might remove some or all of the biopellets.

Thank you for your recommendations. I will look how PO4 and NO4 goes down and if i reach PO4 on 0.05 start remove some part of biopellets. In your tank regulate this nutrition parts in which way ? Thank you for sharing your experiences!

 

[Jon Warner]

BioPellets serve as a substrate and a food source for bacteria. When "chunks" of biomass break off of the pellets, this floating clump of bacteria certainly may be consumed by some coral before it settles out, skims out or is consumed by something.

However... thinking of BioPellets as dissolving C pellets isn't accurate. BioPellets are 100% inert without bacterial action, so it's really nothing like vodka, vinegar, etc. In addition, they're 100% self-regulating. If levels of PO4 and NO3 are low in the system, there will be little bacterial activity. The bacterial density on the BioPellets is directly proportional to the nutrient levels in the system.