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    Two Weeks In with “Solid Vodka” NP Bio Pellets

    NP Bio Pellets are a solid organic carbon polymer that provides a substrate and food for bacteria. We’ve slowly introduced this new filtration method into the glassbox over the past two weeks for a review. We plan to use the media two ways–the first being in a traditional media / zeovit reactor that will gently [...]

    np biopellets review

    NP Bio Pellets are a solid organic carbon polymer that provides a substrate and food for bacteria. We’ve slowly introduced this new filtration method into the glassbox over the past two weeks for a review. We plan to use the media two ways–the first being in a traditional media / zeovit reactor that will gently tumble the bio pellets. The second, as a substrate to a cryptic refugium housing various tunicates and sponges.

    The Bio Pellets are roughly 1cm in diameter and slowly sink when introduced to water. As a substrate, the media is easily agitated using a turkey baster or increasing flow nearby. In the two weeks of use I has not yet observed any changes or seen a reduction in nutrients.

    np biopellets

    As much as we’d like to provide an indepth review on this product, without a controlled lab setting we will not be able to provide hard data. NO3 and PO4 levels of the aquarium water will be measured and and observations will be taken on the appearance of corals and the growth of micro algae. This product will take a long time to evaluate and like any organic carbon source–there will be a learning curve.

    np biopellets review

    Reef Interests does suggest that you cannot overdose with Bio Pellets, unlike ethanol, but I’m being cautious with the introduction of this new “filter”. A biodegradable media is an intriguing concept and I am curious to see if it can live up to its claims. For me the biggest test will be how well it supports non-photosynthetic life, like the sponges and tunicates that reside in my cryptic refugium. If you’re anxious to try the bio-media yourself, NP Bio Pellets are now available from Aquarium Specialty and Premium Aquatics.

    Related Posts

    1. NP Bio Pellets, A New Carbon Dosing Method
    2. Solid Carbon Source Grows NO3 and PO4 Reducing Bacteria
    3. BRS Bio Pellets are PHA Bacteria Boosters
    4. Sponges Recycle Carbon on the Reef
    5. Up Close With ATB HQ BioPellets
    • tamthapluc

      Tagging along. Thank you for the experiment. How frequently will you update?

    • http://blog.marinedepot.com jeffry r. johnston

      Looking forward to reading further updates about this new product

    • http://reefblog.unrulymck.com Jim

      Were you still dosing your VSV carbon source up until you began to test this product?

    • http://twitter.com/MLukaczyn Mike L

      Are you also using Zeobak, Biodigest, or Ultrabio with the initial start up? Or using the pellets by themselves?

    • http://none Rich Jackson

      I am 2 weeks in witht he pellets and am using brightwell mb7 and reef fuel.. i have noticed that the pellets are starting to have the white film on them.

    • nate

      can you let us know how much biopellets you are using in relation to the size (gallons) of your tank, and whether they are being used passively or in a fluidized reactor? I just bought some and the dosing instructions are all over the place, i’m wondering if i put too little in i won’t notice any difference, i’m thinking theres got to be a threshold amount per gallon where it starts to make enough of a difference.

    • ZiyaadB

      Looking forward to your findings

    • http://glassbox-design.com eric michael

      @Jim since restarting the tank only 3ml of VSV have been used upon cycling to speed the process. I have not used any since in preparation to test the product–we wanted a clean slate. All live rock is fresh as well.

      @Rich, I have noticed the white film as well.

      @Mike L, BioDigest was used upon cycling in conjunction with VSV to speed up the process, nothing has been added since–but I do plan to incorporate it again in the future.

      @nate, the plan is to use 500ml for 100g total volume. I’m currently at ~1/3 that amount split between substrate (passive) for cryptic refugiua and half in a fluidized zeo reactor.

    • nate

      eric that sounds about what i’m planning to use my tank is 70 gallons and i’m planning to use 350 mls in a phosban reactor, i’m not too sure whether i’m going to run it before my active carbon or after, i suppose running it before the carbon is better since it needs higher flow rate but i wonder if it will have any negative effects. I will try to update my findings here alongside your’s :) btw best reef blog on the planet you have here, really enjoy your approach to writing and hands on attitude.

    • http://el1as.homelinux.org Elias Hickman

      I’ve been using them for about two months now. I haven’t noticed any significant change. I don’t really have any before and after pictures unfortunately, but one positive thing is that the number and size of my zooplankton have increased. I’m not seeing TONS of them, and I was dosing live phyto for a while so I’m not sure if they were feeding off of that or the biopellets. I’m interested to see your findings. Where do you have the outlet placed by the way? By the skimmer? Do you believe these can act as a FOOD source too?

    • Callum

      Any update?
      I have just purchaseed a reactor and the Biopellets, so keen to hear of any issues or results.

    • http://glassbox-design.com/ eric michael

      Hi Callum,

      I have yet to see the bio-mass and biofilms that others have noted. Three weeks ago I placed some into a reverse flow media reactor to see if this effected any growth of bacteria. At this point I still have yet to see any.

      That said, all sponges are alive and growing.

    • http://glassbox-design.com/2010/npx-bio-beads/ NpX Bio Beads, Denitrification Pellets with an X ? | glassbox-design.com

      [...] purchased in bulk, however, we’ve been told many times that Reef Interests, manufacturer of NP Biopellets, has exclusivity on this aquarium product offering working with the patent owners [Note, Reef [...]

    • ziyaad

      any feedback as yet?

    • Ziyaad

      anything

    • Ziyaad

      anything

    • kenreefic

      I had introduced biopellets into my system for 3 weeks now.  On the 1st week my corals, polyps, and lps seem to be doing great.  After the 2nd week, my system crashed and almost lost everything.  For any new hobbyist that are thinking of using these media, please ensure to use great amount of oxygen (air) and plenty of bacteria nitrification, like bacter 7 to help with the bacteria bloom.  Just wanted to share my experience, so that you don’t lose any expensive investments. 

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