Offical Eco-Bak Thread

[shellynjason]

Two weeks ago my p04 got up to .09 so I changed out the HC GFO and the next day p04 was .04. I just now checked it (it's been a week since my last water change) and it's holding steady still at .04 with the hanna checker.

I do see that my 'tumble' in the ecobak reactor has slowed down alot due to some bacteria slim (that's a good thing) ... so I was thinking about rinsing it with tank water to loosen it up (after doing my 10% water change today). Is that the right thing to do? or should I leave it alone?

 

[Dowtish]

I would just increase the tumble for a bit. i would not rinse them.

 

[schooleyosis]

Thoughts?

I read these comments on another forum. What are your thoughts?

"the down side to running BPs, is they thieve a lot of your rocks bio activity."

"In time (months) the LR will lose a good chunk of its bio activity
with the use of BPs"

:playball:

 

[Dowtish]

I read these comments on another forum. What are your thoughts?

"the down side to running BPs, is they thieve a lot of your rocks bio activity."

"In time (months) the LR will lose a good chunk of its bio activity
with the use of BPs"

:playball:

I think this is totally wrong. That is my first thought.

Bio-pellets are not only a food source but a SUBSTRATE for bacteria to live and grow on. You are just adding more bacteria, not taking any away.

Here is a question for you? So when people add more LR to their sump, does that mean all the bacteria suddenly leaves the LR in the display???

 

[schooleyosis]

Good points Chris. I didn't agree with the statements when I read them as well but was curious...

 

[shellynjason]

Does any one know the bacteria 'strain' name of the type that Ecobak attracts? I'd love to dig deeper into the chemistry of it all ... especially the part about how much nitrates you need to phosphates, and why.

 

[gmoney243]

Does any one know the bacteria 'strain' name of the type that Ecobak attracts? I'd love to dig deeper into the chemistry of it all ... especially the part about how much nitrates you need to phosphates, and why.

10:1 and the strain is willius coyoteus

 

[shellynjason]

10:1 and the strain is willius coyoteus

Funny boi! LOL ... I was thinking about dosing nitrates so needed the specifics.

 

[shellynjason]

Does any one know the bacteria 'strain' name of the type that Ecobak attracts? I'd love to dig deeper into the chemistry of it all ... especially the part about how much nitrates you need to phosphates, and why.

Found this ratio on another site ...

Bacteria that consumes phosphates and nitrates need carbon to do so in a ratio of C:N:P = 106:16:1
Phosphate high, 0 nitrate, what should I do? - Page 2 - Water Chemistry - Nano-Reef.com Forums
Redfield ratio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[gmoney243]

Found this ratio on another site ...

Bacteria that consumes phosphates and nitrates need carbon to do so in a ratio of C:N:P = 106:16:1
Phosphate high, 0 nitrate, what should I do? - Page 2 - Water Chemistry - Nano-Reef.com Forums
Redfield ratio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I Know ive read somewhere that algae is 16:1 and bacteria dosing methods are 10:1 either way its something like that

 

[Dowtish]

So essentially, if you are having issues with your phosphates being high and nitrates being non existant, and you are running bio pellets is to add more livestock/bioload and feed more.

 

[Chaz D]

So essentially, if you are having issues with your phosphates being high and nitrates being non existant, and you are running bio pellets is to add more livestock/bioload and feed more.

No...You want to increase nitrate without increasing phosphate. You can't do this by additional feeding or livestock additions. A pure source of nitrate is the only way, sodium/calcium nitrate or you can buy some Brightwell NeoNitro.

 

[Dowtish]

No...You want to increase nitrate without increasing phosphate. You can't do this by additional feeding or livestock additions. A pure source of nitrate is the only way, sodium/calcium nitrate or you can buy some Brightwell NeoNitro.

Thats another option, but I'm not going to say it's the only way.

 

[shellynjason]

Would my Yellow Star Polyp be sucking the nitrates out of the tank? They are my best growing softy coral. Maybe I need to pull some out ... because I have a clam that needs nitrates too and there seems to be alot of things in my tank that consume or need nitrates.

 

[thegrilledcheesus]

quick question guys, could I run non BRS pellets in BRS dual reactor?

 

[p woodard]

quick question guys, could I run non BRS pellets in BRS dual reactor?

I don't think you can run bio pellets in a dual reactor they are meant to run GFO and carbon

 

[bknapp]

quick question guys, could I run non BRS pellets in BRS dual reactor?

You could but, the real question is how effective would that be in a dual reactor. My guess is probably not very. They really need their own reactor to better control the flow through and tumble plus, the RO canisters are not effective.

 

[meintn]

I'm experiencing some of the same issues currently. Nitrates at 0 for the last month or more and phosphates remaining high at 0.8 or so. I'm using Salifert nitrate test and Hanna checker for phosphates. I'm using Dr Tims Bio-Pellets and just added my final third this past weekend so they have been running on the system for abit over 6 weeks. I was just about to add a few more fish to the tank. I guess if the phosphates don't drop in the next couple weeks, I can reduce skimming efficiency as well as add the microbacter7 or something similar. Any other suggestions?

 

[NeveSSL]

I think most bio pellet users keep some GFO around for phosphate reduction once they run out of nitrates.

Brandon

 

[RobbReef]

I'm expirencing some stn after run Eco bak three years. If I turn the flow up the faster it stn it seems. The slower flow stns slower is there something I can do or recommend ? I was running alk at 9.2 when this all started also but dropped down to 8.2. All perms are in check.
Alk 8.2 Hanna
Cal420 salifert
No3 0 salifert
Po4 o salifert
Sal 1.025