Nutrient reduction. What are you using now?

[E.intheC]

There are multiple threads on this, but I figured id start something new. Currently, I'm only running carbon and GFO in a bag that's sitting in my tank. It looks terrible and I'm sure it's not effective.

So, what are you doing? Pellets? GFO Reactor? Vodka? Zeovit?

Please post your experience and both positives and negatives.

 

[sulcata102]

I've have salt water tanks for over 20 years and been using biopellets for several years. I can't image having a tank without them now. Same way I think about a skimmer. Only had one system that I couldn't get nitrates to zero, grow out system, that always hovered around 12 ppm. So recently tried the np all in one biopellets with Gfo included in the pellets and they got it right to zero in about month.

 

[Waleedwale1]

In my 29 gal mixed reef my only form of filteration is chaeto, and some filter floss. Nutrients seem to be pretty low, acros are growing. I have a skimmer but it barely works.

 

[E.intheC]

I've have salt water tanks for over 20 years and been using biopellets for several years. I can't image having a tank without them now. Same way I think about a skimmer. Only had one system that I couldn't get nitrates to zero, grow out system, that always hovered around 12 ppm. So recently tried the np all in one biopellets with Gfo included in the pellets and they got it right to zero in about month.

I was just reading about these pellets. I heard you need much more flow than normal bio pellets because they're heavier. Any downsides that you've noticed?

 

[RAYISKING]

Using gfo and fuge

 

[Cu455]

There are multiple threads on this, but I figured id start something new. Currently, I'm only running carbon and GFO in a bag that's sitting in my tank. It looks terrible and I'm sure it's not effective.

So, what are you doing? Pellets? GFO Reactor? Vodka? Zeovit?

Please post your experience and both positives and negatives.

The bag of carbon in a high flow area works pretty well. When I am treating formagreen or nitrofurazone in a hospital tank I just use a couple of air stones. When I want to remove the medication I just throw a bag of carbon in and the medication is removed pretty quick. Not as effective as a reactor but it works.

For nutrient removal biopellets, fuge or algae turf scrubber. If space is limited biopellets are your best best. I like a fuge because you can grow sponges, muscles , feather dusters and other organisms to filter the water.

 

[E.intheC]

The bag of carbon I have isn't in a high flow area. I do notice it clears up the water after I put a fresh batch of carbon in there, but it can't last that long. I'm not sure how effective the few tbsp of GFO I'm using really is either.

I'm personally a fan of GFO and carbon reactors. I used to dose vodka but I never dosed long enough or consistently enough for it to make much difference.

How about pellets? Anyone have luck with them (good or bad)?

 

[oh207]

I run a mix of GFO and Carbon in a single BRS Reactor. 2/3 GFO and 1/3 carbon. Change out every 3 weeks.
And I add the same mix to a mesh bag and place it inside one of the baffles in the sump.
Works very well. The con is that the reactor gets clogged every 3 weeks and needs to be changed. This used to be a pain. But now I just do my water changes every three weeks and replace the media at the same time.
Other nutrient export includes vacuuming detritus from the sump every 3 weeks during water changes. I never vacuum the DT or the sand bed.
Having plenty of live rock. And a skimmer that is rated almost 3x the water volume.
I used to have felt socks that I changed every 2 weeks. But that was a nitrate factory and also got clogged quickly. I got rid of it and now use different types of filter pads in the sump baffles. Recently I added nitrate filter pads.

 

[Cu455]

How about pellets? Anyone have luck with them (good or bad)?

I use them in a media bag over my wet dry in my fish only tank. It keeps my nitrates low and no visible affect on my tank.

I tried them in my reef for a couple of days but removed them. My coral looked like crap. I am sure they just needed time to adjust.

 

[ducati335i]

there are way too many variables to discuss w this.. some people dont need anything.. depends on feeding, bioload, amount of live rock, water, and so on..

I do weekly changes, switch filter socks every two days, run gfo in a bag, carbon, and does 30 ml vinegar a day on true 550 gallons,, its the sweet spot for my tank.. I do feed a good amount and have about 25 fish... 7 of these are about 10 inches.. I think tank maturity has a nice role too..

 

[QueensRob]

I am siding with biopellets. I am running a 120g in wall display with several frag tanks and separate refugium. I feed 5 times a day and never have any trace of nit or po4. I only run half dose of biopellets for 200g plus of water due to the all the tank crashes in the past that I have read about but I run a separate skimmer for just the pellet discharge. The skimmer for the pellet discharge is crazy, I have to empty it every 3 days but the system skimmer every 7 days. Understanding your system and its needs is what will determine what you need. I have heavy flow in all tanks to keep the fish active all day so I need to feed more but to keep diseases down, I keep them well fed and happy.

 

[lnevo]

Recently I added nitrate filter pads.

How are they working for you?

 

[oh207]

How are they working for you?

Honestly, I really don't know. I haven't tested anything since before last November. I packed up my test kits in a box and they've been in the shed since then.
I had a breakout of Cyano about 2 months ago, but its not so bad now. There are still a few patches left, but I can't really say that it went away because of the pads because I do run GFO as well. I use to run a regular sponge in the baffles before I replace them with the nitrate pads. So I suppose its better to have the nitrate pads instead of a regular sponge.

 

[TommyP]

chaeto + GFO (phosban 150)