can you run GFO and Bio Pellets

[Montaquelaveist]

Hello fellow reefers i have been battling NO3 and PO4 for the longest time i just got the new reef octopus bio pellet reactor but have been running GFO my PO4 was down to about 0.010ppm it just shot up to 0.031ppm im about to change the GFO today but wanted to know can i run the two together or should i stop the GFO, Im affraid that if i stop my PO4 will go thru the roof and start to kill off my Acros any help will be greatly appreciated guys and thank in advance

 

[afernandez]

You can run them together. The pellets take 3-4 weeks to "activate"
If your having issues try to do w/c more often and a bit bigger. And change your Gfo every 2-3 weeks until u get them down.

 

[pecan2phat]

You should not run them together and if you do run GFO in the bio-pellet designed reactor, make sure the flow is just enough to cause the top of the GFO to slightly tumble unlike the rolling boil that pellets should have.

 

[Reef Reaper]

i do

 

[lnevo]

You can do both...just keep in mind the bacteria require some phosphate and some nitrate to feed off. If one is to low you may not get the reaction your looking for. At that point, I'd say take the gfo online...some people actually need to dose nitrates to get the right balance for pellets to do their thing. I've never run pellets though. This is based solely on research online that I've done, so more opinions would be great,,

 

[pecan2phat]

Can't see this working in a longterm situation since both media require different tumbling rates but this is just my opinion.

 

[lnevo]

I didn't get that he was trying to run both in same reactor...he was running GFO already and bought a pellet reactor. I would agree running both in same reactor would not be good.

 

[afernandez]

Your right pecan not in the same reactor. But he said he has been running Gfo and bough a biopellet reactor. Long term the biopellets will strip po4 out the water so you won't need Gfo. But to lower po4 and for the time being he can run both I have with no issues.

 

[pecan2phat]

I probably mis-read that he was asking if they could be run together in the same reactor. As for running them both separately, I agree with everyone else that it's not a problem.
Bio-pellets do very little to reduce Po4 but it works wonders for No3 in my experience. It's also based on the Redfield ratio, 16:1

 

[Montaquelaveist]

You should not run them together and if you do run GFO in the bio-pellet designed reactor, make sure the flow is just enough to cause the top of the GFO to slightly tumble unlike the rolling boil that pellets should have.

you miss understood what i meant by run them together i have two separate reactors one for the bio pellets and one for the GFO

 

[homegrowncichlid]

Yep, pecan2phat probably thought you had them running on a single pump, in serial. That would be difficult to control. Though I've always wanted to plumb my aquaripure denitrifier in with my overflow pipe. I built a GFO chamber into it, but the denitrifier was a later additon. Hmm, it could be done, but nah, I would need to figure out how to keep bubbles out.

 

[Montaquelaveist]

thanks for all the input guys i will run the GFO until my NO3 gets low and then reduce the GFO to maintain low PO4 and once low enough i will run RowaPhos to keep it low since it last longer than regular GFO i just hope these damn Bio pellets kick in soon its been about 3weeks they haven't dissolved as of yet so not sure if they have kicked in yet

 

[vio]

You can do both...just keep in mind the bacteria require some phosphate and some nitrate to feed off. If one is to low you may not get the reaction your looking for. At that point, I'd say take the gfo online...some people actually need to dose nitrates to get the right balance for pellets to do their thing. I've never run pellets though. This is based solely on research online that I've done, so more opinions would be great,,

+1 ,if u run the right amount of Biopellets (in 4-6 weeks) u shut have Nitrate "0", if still big # on PO4 than u have to balance, until both go down.

 

[Montaquelaveist]

+1 ,if u run the right amount of Biopellets (in 4-6 weeks) u shut have Nitrate "0", if still big # on PO4 than u have to balance, until both go down.

Thanks im trying to get it down i started with 200ml not seeing much of a drop yet will wait til i check next week if no change will add another 100ml

 

[vio]

Thanks im trying to get it down i started with 200ml not seeing much of a drop yet will wait til i check next week if no change will add another 100ml

Just to add some, if u got lots of Sand, may NOT working, or DSB, u now, u need a GOOD protein Skimmer.

 

[Montaquelaveist]

Just to add some, if u got lots of Sand, may NOT working, or DSB, u now, u need a GOOD protein Skimmer.

yeah i have a deep sand bed and but i also have a good skimmer the tank is 120 and my skimmer is a diablo XS160 which handles up to 160 gallons

 

[vio]

yeah i have a deep sand bed and but i also have a good skimmer the tank is 120 and my skimmer is a diablo XS160 which handles up to 160 gallons

I don't want to said something wrong, but DSB must take in care u Nitrate and PO4, dosing Carbon (biopeletts,Vodka,Vinegar etc) just NOT working good w/DSB google ,please.