Help or Feedback? NP-Bacto-Pellets Regularly Clumping and Plugging Reactor

[Brian916]

I have a Reefer 250 and I have been using the BRS PLA pellets in an IM MiniMax reactor for ~6 years. These worked pretty well, and I had no reason to switch this up, but I was ticked at how BRS discontinued most of their YouTube projects (i know....childish). So when I needed to restock, I decided to try the Tropic Marin NP-Bacto-Pellets which was on the shelf at my LFS.

I have found that these are super fussy and require a ton of maintenance. My challenges have included:

- The pellets develop a slimy exterior and seem to clump super readily. If you don't break up the clumps, they cause clogging issues. I have rarely had PLA pellets clump except in cases of extreme neglect.

- Their NP-Pellet density seems to be lower and more variable. I can set the flow rate for a medium tumble and come back to half the pellets floating at the top clogging reactor my outlet. If I don't make regular flow adjustments, the reduction in flow causes the other half of the pellets to settle and the whole thing becomes a clumped up anoxic mess. I find that I am opening up the reactor at least weekly and manually stirring the pellets to break the clumps.

- As the NP-Pellets break down the smallest pellets are clogging the outlet filter of my reactor. I never had this issue with the PLA pellets. This could probably be fixed with a piece of filter foam, but I never had this issue with the PLA pellets.

- When they clump at the top and clog the outlet of the reactor, the pump will occassionally overcome the pressure fit o-ring on the reactor and cause it to overflow dumping pellets into the sump. I know this is a design issue with this reactor, but again it worked fine for 8 years.

I hate to just dump these, but I am getting tired of the hassle. I feel like the density of the pellet is too low and they are too soft for the application. Am I doing it wrong?!? Or is it perhaps the case that my reactor isn't a good match to these pellets?

I would love to hear if reefers are having a positive (or similar) experience with this product and what reactor / pellet combo is working.

Thanks!

 

[BlueNem]

Following

 

[Fliper]

I have a Reefer 250 and I have been using the BRS PLA pellets in an IM MiniMax reactor for ~6 years. These worked pretty well, and I had no reason to switch this up, but I was ticked at how BRS discontinued most of their YouTube projects (i know....childish). So when I needed to restock, I decided to try the Tropic Marin NP-Bacto-Pellets which was on the shelf at my LFS.

I have found that these are super fussy and require a ton of maintenance. My challenges have included:

- The pellets develop a slimy exterior and seem to clump super readily. If you don't break up the clumps, they cause clogging issues. I have rarely had PLA pellets clump except in cases of extreme neglect.

- Their NP-Pellet density seems to be lower and more variable. I can set the flow rate for a medium tumble and come back to half the pellets floating at the top clogging reactor my outlet. If I don't make regular flow adjustments, the reduction in flow causes the other half of the pellets to settle and the whole thing becomes a clumped up anoxic mess. I find that I am opening up the reactor at least weekly and manually stirring the pellets to break the clumps.

- As the NP-Pellets break down the smallest pellets are clogging the outlet filter of my reactor. I never had this issue with the PLA pellets. This could probably be fixed with a piece of filter foam, but I never had this issue with the PLA pellets.

- When they clump at the top and clog the outlet of the reactor, the pump will occassionally overcome the pressure fit o-ring on the reactor and cause it to overflow dumping pellets into the sump. I know this is a design issue with this reactor, but again it worked fine for 8 years.

I hate to just dump these, but I am getting tired of the hassle. I feel like the density of the pellet is too low and they are too soft for the application. Am I doing it wrong?!? Or is it perhaps the case that my reactor isn't a good match to these pellets?

I would love to hear if reefers are having a positive (or similar) experience with this product and what reactor / pellet combo is working.

Thanks!

Some pellets are garbage. That’s all there is to it. Some create mulm so badly that it creates another problem.

Swallow your pride and go back to BRS.

 

[10galtank]

Never had a problem with mine. Running solid for a year or two now. On the contrary, I do use a Phosban little reactor which has the foam insert. Every once in a while, I need to clean the foam or else the flow decreases thus not tumbling pellets; but I can say with almost certainty it is not the pellets creating a film rather the free floating particulate in my tank being the pump is in first changer.

 

[Fliper]

Never had a problem with mine. Running solid for a year or two now. On the contrary, I do use a Phosban little reactor which has the foam insert. Every once in a while, I need to clean the foam or else the flow decreases thus not tumbling pellets; but I can say with almost certainty it is not the pellets creating a film rather the free floating particulate in my tank being the pump is in first changer.

You should tell everyone what brand of pellets you are using. Not all pellets are created equal. Some are horrible. I had trouble with them when I went down bio pellet road many years ago and it was suggested to me that it was the particular brand of pellets I was using. I didn’t test that theory. Instead. I tried something else.

I now use a sulfur reactor (incredible). If I were using bio pellets today and I knew what a sulfur reactor was, I’d turn my reactor into a Sulfur reactor.

But, if pellets are working for you…I’d say don’t fix it if it ain’t broke!

 

[Brian916]

Update... I could not cure the clumping issues with the Tropic Marin product. I ended up chucking most of a $45 tub : { This is a do not buy review for the Tropic Marin NP-Bacto Pellets. I have yet to see/find/read an example where they work for a hobbyist in a standard media reactor.

I ended up going back to the BRS Biopellets. The price is right and they really work in the reactor up until they get so small that they start to clog the mesh. I am running 1/2 cup in my small IM Desktop reactor on the Reefer 250. Maybe it is the low level carbon dosing, but I truly get better color and growth when I have these online.