Figured I would post an update on the bio pellets. Just tested water and nitrates have dropped (Somewhere between the 160ppm and 80ppm mark) Added about another 100mL of biopellets to the reactor. One interesting thing I did notice is that my phosphates have slightly bumped up? Anyone know the relationship between the 2? Does bacteria need phosphates in order to process nitrates effectively? I was thinking of maybe running GFO together with Biopellets? Anyone see any issues with that? I'm about 5 days in to a 15% WC.
I use GFO and never have any issues, I tried bio pellets and just didn't see anything. If you go GFO use the Brightwell that zcory uses, I'll be switching to that ... Your really fighting something that should be an issue.
Update on the NPX bioplastics.....nitrates somewhere in between 60-80ppm. Phosphates holding steady at .25ppm
Alright! Cut 'em in half. Looks like you are on track. How fast is your skimmer cup filling up? Looks like you're skimming wet, nothing wrong with that but watch your salinity. When my skimmer is functioning the way I want the skimmate is like green milk....hardly any light can get through it. Interested to hear how the more experienced on here try to set up their skimmer.
I have the adjustment tube on my ASM all the way down. Right now I'm averaging about 2-3 days and it's about 3/4 full of skunky dark brown to black goo. The pic from above was about 3-4 days of buildup and was in the beginning when the bioplastics were just getting started. I just cleaned the cup yesterday and the skimmate was much darker and slightly thicker consistency than the pic above. I'll try to post a new pic in couple of days. Salinity has been steady and everything looks happy.
Great! Let me know when you get down to the point you're ready to try some SPS. I've got some "accidental frags" that would be great guinea pigs to see if things are ok. I have a green acro (last years Reefsplash), a Ponape birdnest and a monitpora digitata (Sept club coral). The acro has overgrown the frag rack but I think I can get it off. These corals are tough (they have survived my early mistakes) and all but the digitata grow pretty fast.
Hey David, I'm working in Conway today and would be up for checking out those frags if you have some time today.
Just wanted to update the progress of the NPX bioplastics experiment and my ongoing battle with Nitrates. I've been running bioplastics for about 4 weeks now. Attached is a photo of my nitrates this am. I have been staying true to weekly 25 gal waterchanges and with the help of Shawn and Greg did a reaquascape to open up my tank last week. I did battle a spike in ammonia that seems to be finally stabilizing. But overall everything seems to be leveling out.
