Biopellet tumble discussion

[pgr11]

I've seen some posts lately on the "correct" tumble of pellets and thought we could get a thread specifically for the issue. What is the best tumble you've found and why? I have mine tumbling a little faster because from my understanding it helps with nitrate more and slower is for po4. I'd like to hear from others though and better understand the process or why to tumble one way or another. I've been thinking about the ever since bean posted that video of john warner tumbling his pellets. So let's get the discussion going

 

[Zoarder]

I don't care on the speed as long its tumbling... both my tanks been like that for a while. I've been running biopellets for a year now....

 

[BeanMachine]

Name change boo!

 

[Zoarder]

Name change boo!

haha...

 

[reefes pieces]

Hahaha! well I didn't know tumble rate could affect p04 vs n03. that's pretty cool. I use ecobak and directions for it say to be slow rolling tumble for max effectiveness so that's what I aim for. Not sure if that's for all pellets or just the warner marine ecobaks.

Name change boo!

 

[Zoarder]

Hahaha! well I didn't know tumble rate could affect p04 vs n03. that's pretty cool. I use ecobak and directions for it say to be slow rolling tumble for max effectiveness so that's what I aim for. Not sure if that's for all pellets or just the warner marine ecobaks.

I use the same one you are using, I'm trying it out since I heard good things about it.

 

[BeanMachine]

I am going on week 2 of the Warner Marine EcoBack.

The majority of feedback I received from pellet users is that you want a slow tumble. The more turbulent and faster they spin, the more bacteria colonizes them which results in more aggressive nitrate and phosphate removal. Something to do with the pellets shedding the biofilm more quickly?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I don't care on the speed as long its tumbling... both my tanks been like that for a while. I've been running biopellets for a year now....

What did ur username used to be?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I am going on week 2 of the Warner Marine EcoBack.

The majority of feedback I received from pellet users is that you want a slow tumble. The more turbulent and faster they spin, the more bacteria colonizes them which results in more aggressive nitrate and phosphate removal. Something to do with the pellets shedding the biofilm more quickly?

Yep I've read this info from different sources. I've also experienced it myself. The video that bean posted is what I always aim to keep my pellets at. If u crank them up too fast, it seemed to cause some of my finicky zoas to close up. I always assumed it was because it was stripping the water too fast

 

[oredith]

What did ur username used to be?

Name Noah
Location Los Angeles

spznm or however it was spelled..

 

[Zoarder]

What did ur username used to be?

haha, a username that I been using since HS so I thought I change it since all I do is Hoarder zoas lol

 

[Zoarder]

Name Noah
Location Los Angeles

spznm or however it was spelled..

That's how I spelled it with no vowels It means Specialized Noah M.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Just took this video for people to see how the CADLights reactor tumbles pellets
http://youtu.be/RHoN80aHHXE

 

[pgr11]

Just took this video for people to see how the CADLights reactor tumbles pellets
http://youtu.be/RHoN80aHHXE

That's about the tumble I'm using mine at.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

That's about the tumble I'm using mine at.

How full is ur reactor? I just added a bunch more pellets and threw it in my new sump. I started all fresh though. Let my pellets dry all out and then soaked them in some RO/DI for a few days. Since I only have fish in my tank, I figured id get that thing going asap.

 

[pgr11]

How full is ur reactor? I just added a bunch more pellets and threw it in my new sump. I started all fresh though. Let my pellets dry all out and then soaked them in some RO/DI for a few days. Since I only have fish in my tank, I figured id get that thing going asap.

I have about 2 cups in the reactor

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I have about 2 cups in the reactor

If u turn the pump off, about how full is it? Half? 3/4?

 

[pgr11]

If u turn the pump off, about how full is it? Half? 3/4?

I'll check once I'm home. I wanna say half

 

[xmas_one]

From what I've gathered the tumble was not so much the critical factor, rather the amount of pellets and actual flow through the reactor. Unless your pellet area and bioload are perfectly matched, supposedly you run the risk of "stripping" the tank.