npx beads clumping.

[Shananagans]

So I came home today and my npx were in 1 giant clump. I noticed mini clumps yesterday, but shook it up and it broke up. But now shaking it does nothing.

I am using a tlf 150 with a mj1200 about 75-80% open. There are about 200ml in the reactor and it has been running since late august or early sept. It was moving around great before this.

I looked around and saw a bunch of similar post but nothing that I felt was super helpful.

I would like to know 1st how to fix/prevent this and 2nd what might be causing it?

 

[LatinP]

So I came home today and my npx were in 1 giant clump. I noticed mini clumps yesterday, but shook it up and it broke up. But now shaking it does nothing.

I am using a tlf 150 with a mj1200 about 75-80% open. There are about 200ml in the reactor and it has been running since late august or early sept. It was moving around great before this.

I looked around and saw a bunch of similar post but nothing that I felt was super helpful.

I would like to know 1st how to fix/prevent this and 2nd what might be causing it?

In a nutshell it's more than likely flow. Have you taken apart and cleaned the mj1200 since you installed it?

 

[Shananagans]

It is a brand new mj1200. Are you saying not enough flow?

 

[NYreefNoob]

not the right reactor first off, ive stated this on several of the site's, you can only push x amount of flow through those reactors, also did you take the sponge out of the tlf reactor ?

 

[Shananagans]

I have seen and read many ppl using this reactor, so although it my not be the best it others have made it work.
Yup, I do not use the sponge, and have the extra white plastic mesh.

The flow seemed fine b4 beads were tumbling great.

 

[LatinP]

Unfortunately NYReef is right lot of people have used that reactor for pellets and failed. I'm using a Vertex reactor at the moment and knock on wood no problems yet. When pellets clump together it's usually a flow issue though, pellets will get stuck together if they don't tumble correctly.

 

[Shananagans]

Ok. Why would this now happen tho after 2months of use? And the 1200 should have more then enough flow. Are you saying that the reactor itself is restricting the flow.

Do you see an issue with me opening it up and breaking them apart, at least for the short term? I don't think I am gona have the $ to pick up a vertex.

 

[NYreefNoob]

shana you will find 10x more people who have had issue's using the pellets when using that reactor, then successful one's, i use the vertex reactor myself for over a year now with pellets. id turn flow off for a second and break the pellets up and then turn pump back on, and dial it all the way up, issue's come from them not tumbling as opposed to tumbling to much

 

[Widdy]

You're running it with a mesh? Check the mesh... I pulled my Vertex UF15 offline today, and after emptying out the pellets, I noticed the mesh was clogged up, preventing water flow. Maybe this is happening to you as well...

 

[LatinP]

Ok. Why would this now happen tho after 2months of use? And the 1200 should have more then enough flow. Are you saying that the reactor itself is restricting the flow.

Do you see an issue with me opening it up and breaking them apart, at least for the short term? I don't think I am gona have the $ to pick up a vertex.

If the MJ is new I don't see why it would have an issue I use one on my Vertex reactor and it's fine. It's prob the reactor having a hard time keeping a constant flow, that's the problem with the TLF reactors. I'd take it apart and try to separate them rinse them off and put them back online, if it happens again and the MJ seems fine you'll know it's the reactor. Honestly I'd keep a close eye on that reactor just in case!

 

[Shananagans]

ok, can I just rinse with sink or distilled water or should I use tank water?

 

[LatinP]

ok, can I just rinse with sink or distilled water or should I use tank water?

RO or tank water should be fine they might even come apart as soon as you take them out of the reactor. Just don't do anything crazy like soak them in tap water and re-introduce that into your tank.

 

[NYreefNoob]

dont rinse the pellets at all, dump them in a bowl with the water thats in the reactor and see if the mesh is clogged then dump it all back into reactor after breaking the pellets up

 

[NL146]

You should probably manually break apart the clumps while submerged in tank water to try to preserve the bacteria population. Over time the tlf will get clogged and flow will reduce. I suspect that reduced flow coupled with bacterial growth will cause clumping.

 

[NL146]

Yeah, what NYreefNoob said.

 

[Shananagans]

ok, I'll try that, Thanks.

I'll try to keep an update of what happened either on here on my tank thread.

If I decide to disconnect these; would I cause any shock or harm to my tank by just taking them offline? Not, planning this unless they keep clumping.

 

[Josh]

Ok. Why would this now happen tho after 2months of use? And the 1200 should have more then enough flow. Are you saying that the reactor itself is restricting the flow.

Bacteria will start to colonize on the outside of the pellets, they will get a little tacky or soft on the edges. If you don't have enough flow they will clot and then you will have major problems with hydrogen sulfide.

 

[Shananagans]

Ok, good news, I got them going again and when I opened it; it did not smell like sulfur.

Bacteria will start to colonize on the outside of the pellets, they will get a little tacky or soft on the edges. If you don't have enough flow they will clot and then you will have major problems with hydrogen sulfide.

So the gel bacteria you speak of, good or bad?

Does that only form is flow is to weak or it will regardless but does not cause bonding with sufficient flow.

Is it bad if the "gel" gets in your tank?

 

[cybermeez]

I have a Vertex reactor and have used a few different kinds of pellets with it. I've found that some brands tend to clump more readily than others. So far for me the Vertex brand of pellets are the least likely to clump. They are little cylinders with sharp edges rather than smooth so that may have something to do with it.

 

[Josh]

Ok, good news, I got them going again and when I opened it; it did not smell like sulfur.



So the gel bacteria you speak of, good or bad?

Does that only form is flow is to weak or it will regardless but does not cause bonding with sufficient flow.

Is it bad if the "gel" gets in your tank?

It is good bacteria, that's the point. If you have a lot of flow you shouldn't see too much of it on the beads themselves.