OneReef

I reccomend getting the output closer to your skimmer intake. ziptie to the skimmer line if need be. looks good though i chose black tubing as well.

i second the ziptie method, thats how i have mine, remeber the by product is Co2 from the reactor

Yeah, I need to get it closer I guess. But that brings up a question. What good does the reactor media do if if is mostly being skimmed out?

It is only supposed to be working in the reactor, otherwise you could just throw the loose media in your tank or sump. The reactor use is supposed to stop the cyano problem that came with vodka dosing.

no the reactor is used because the media needs to be tumbled so the bacteria can grow on it, more of a house for the bacteria to grow. also the cyano problem also has been reported with the pellets, as this a new method there is still some learning to do. i myself and other reefers in my local club who use bio pellets have had the cyano problem(not really a problem just shows up in small amounts), it seems as we kill off the other algaes the stronger cyano moves in but will also go away. the media is not being skimmed out, it is consumed by bacteria and the nitrates that are removed must be skimmed so really its more of "poop" from the good bacteria and needs to be removed. im not totaly sure or an expert but from my readings this is what i have come to understand.

I haven't don't much research into bio-pellets, but am I correct that the pellets feed bacteria that also absorb nitrate? Then the skimmer pulls out the bacteria to remove the nitrate from the system? Same basic theory as vodka then?

The reactor is not needed, neither is the tumbling. The reactor simply does two things, it keeps the beneficial bacteria growing in one place(as opposed to your whole tank) and the tumbling makes the media more efficient (buy not letting it clump and giving you all the surface area). The output being as close to the skimmer intake as possible is to reduce the chances of cyano in the tank and export the bacterial from the consumption of the nitrates and phosphates. Otherwise the bacterial waste would still be in the system and start the whole nitrogen cycle all over.

(I could be incorrect here) But my understanding of the bio pellets is to provide an alternate carbon source for beneficial bacteria growth. This concept is the same as Vodka dosing.
Bio Pellets are a unique carbon based polymer that doubles as a substrate and food source for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Like adding a liquid carbon source such as Vodka or VSV, we still cannot control what bacteria are growing–however, these pellets should inherently provide more control through the location that the bacterial growth occurs (on the pellets!). It has been referred to as the Solid Vodka method for the large bacterial biomass that can be generated and then exported via protein skimming. The pellets will allow aerobic growth of bacteria which consequently will consume nitrate and phosphate simultaneously. The bacteria will use up the carbon from the BioPellets, whilst nitrogen and phosphorus are taken from the water as nitrate and (ortho)phosphate. This conversion of organic BioPellets (together with inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) into microbial biomass is called immobilization. In addition, anaerobic layers will develop, resulting in additional denitrification.

I have had my Next Reef SMR1 Reactor going for a couple weeks now. There are no "visible" signs of any growth inside the reactor, just a gentle tumbling of the bio pellets. My skimmer is skimming out more junk, as well as more productive.

Thanks mledford. That's the first real explanation I've seen on what exactly they do for a system. I've been hearing all sorts of claims, including that they provide more food for SPS corals. Was beginning to sound like just another snake oil to me.

Murray Camp has a good article, got to attend one of speaking event at our local fish club meeting a couple months back also ....http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/cont...cs-demystified

@ Alaska_Phil

You are more than welcome bud. I did a lot of research before going to the Bio Pellets.

I added a video below the last picture.

Update: After adding 250ml more of the EcoBak pellets back on 11/18 for a total of 750ml for my 150g tank, my phosphates this morning 11/27 (Hanna meter) were at .02. This is the lowest they have been since starting the pellets or even running GFO.