Solid Vodka Dosing Pellets

Maverick2009 · 01/08/2010, 02:43 PM

Has anyone ever used these? Looks like an easier approach to dosing.

elijaher · 01/11/2010, 08:13 PM

Have you chek out this thread? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=solid+vodka

Maverick2009 · 01/11/2010, 09:52 PM

Yep, read that the other day and it made me want to try it. It kinda looks like an easier Zeo system.

kingfisherflesh · 01/26/2011, 10:23 PM

Been reading through a lot of these threads recently on here...anyone know of one that has a lot of mixed, long term experiences with them?

There is one for ecobak, but its not very well organized, and is lacking pictures, and specific numbers/values on results.

Some things have sounded really positive, while others sound downright depressing.

bradleym · 01/27/2011, 08:09 AM

There's a Q&A happening locally next month with a guy whose been trying it. I can't say what or where though because he's not with SLASH. If an officer or Mod wants to promote it they can but I'm neither. But if you look around RC you may find it on your own.

jjwill_sdsu · 01/27/2011, 10:47 AM

I've had some BRS pellets going on two months now. I never had the bacteria bloom which seems to plague a lot of new pellet users, but my nitrates and phosphates weren't sky high to begin with. My nitrates have gone to ~0 (<5 on API kit), and I think my phosphates have been dropping as well (haven't tested them in a couple of weeks). It's hard to say if my SPS growth has taken off with such a short sample period, but polyp extension does look pretty good so far and I can definitely tell some things are starting to grow again - I had a few pieces with a lot of die off and can already see where they're starting to grow back from a few surviving patches.

I also feel like I've been able to feed more heavily without impacting NO3/PO4. Whether my improved SPS luck is due to lower NO3/PO4 levels or more food or both is hard to say, but I would at least venture to say that the pellets have been beneficial for my tank so far. Keeping my fingers crossed...

tall_jason79 · 01/27/2011, 12:15 PM

Any issues with clumping? I noticed while reading through numerous threads is that many people experience the bio pellets clumping together. This lead to many people "shaking" their reactors to get the clumps to break apart. The smaller pieces then travel to the display and in many cases causing cyano to form? What reactor are you using with your current set up?

soh15 · 01/27/2011, 01:13 PM

I have been using 500ml from BRS in a BRS reactor. Love them. Water is very clear, NO3/PO levels down to 0. They will clump if set level after they start to work (30days). I found if you tilt the reactor at a small angle they will roll like you need them to, They make a loop/ circle. Had some cyano at first but dialed the maxjet1200 back a little and no more cyano. Tank is a 120 with 40gal sump. Corals look great, better then ever, really color up. Key for me was a slow tumble and wait... I am using GFO with them also.

jjwill_sdsu · 01/27/2011, 02:07 PM

Yup, I'm using the BRS reactor with the special insert as well. I haven't noticed any clumping yet... Do they normally float to the top? I have mine running off of my manifold so I'm not sure how much flow I'm running through them, but they've been tumbling nicely. I also have the outlet from the reactor running to near my skimmer intake, so I'm guessing that might help to reduce the risk of a cyano outbreak.

tall_jason79 · 01/27/2011, 06:46 PM

my skimmer is external so i thought i could T the skimmer feed and dump the reactor directly to the skimmer. Any thoughts?

Aqua Man 07 · 01/29/2011, 04:53 PM

so if you use the pellets do you still use carbon or gfo

jjwill_sdsu · 01/29/2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Man 07

so if you use the pellets do you still use carbon or gfo

I'm still using both right now. I don't think there's any problem with carbon, but I think I have heard some suggest to stop GFO at least to start with... something about needing at least some PO4 to get the bacteria started and populating.

jjwill_sdsu · 01/29/2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tall_jason79

my skimmer is external so i thought i could T the skimmer feed and dump the reactor directly to the skimmer. Any thoughts?

That sounds reasonable to me... I'm assuming you mean the skimmer will receive a mixture of some unfiltered water and all of the return from the reactor.

I have heard suggestions that some of the bacteria coming out of the reactor might serve as good coral food, but I'm not 100% sure how much weight there is to that claim or whether plumbing the reactor outlet directly to the skimmer could skim out all escaping bacteria anyway... but just something to think about.

tall_jason79 · 01/29/2011, 07:56 PM

well from what i have read you want the output of the reactor to drain next to the skimmer to pull the bacteria that has escaped to prevent a bloom of sorts?

jjwill_sdsu · 01/29/2011, 08:42 PM

Yup, I think you definitely want the majority of your reactor output to go to your skimmer. I'm just unsure if you want 100% to go to your skimmer, or if a little slipping by might be good. My skimmer is in-sump, and I just have the reactor outlet hose pointing to within a couple inches of the skimmers intake, but I'm sure there's a fair amount that doesn't get sucked in. I haven't looked enough at people's experience with externally fed skimmers and pellet reactors to know how most are doing it...

01/08/2010, 02:43 PM	#1
Maverick2009 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 427	Solid Vodka Dosing Pellets Has anyone ever used these? Looks like an easier approach to dosing.

01/27/2011, 08:09 AM	#5
bradleym Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shrewsbury/St. Louis, Mo Posts: 3,878	There's a Q&A happening locally next month with a guy whose been trying it. I can't say what or where though because he's not with SLASH. If an officer or Mod wants to promote it they can but I'm neither. But if you look around RC you may find it on your own. __________________ Happy reefing means sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Current Tank Info: 92g corner round. No sand, lots of mushrooms.

01/27/2011, 10:47 AM	#6
jjwill_sdsu Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arnold, MO Posts: 316	I've had some BRS pellets going on two months now. I never had the bacteria bloom which seems to plague a lot of new pellet users, but my nitrates and phosphates weren't sky high to begin with. My nitrates have gone to ~0 (<5 on API kit), and I think my phosphates have been dropping as well (haven't tested them in a couple of weeks). It's hard to say if my SPS growth has taken off with such a short sample period, but polyp extension does look pretty good so far and I can definitely tell some things are starting to grow again - I had a few pieces with a lot of die off and can already see where they're starting to grow back from a few surviving patches. I also feel like I've been able to feed more heavily without impacting NO3/PO4. Whether my improved SPS luck is due to lower NO3/PO4 levels or more food or both is hard to say, but I would at least venture to say that the pellets have been beneficial for my tank so far. Keeping my fingers crossed... __________________ "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 144 gallon half cylinder, 40 gal sump, mixed reef, 2x250W MH

01/27/2011, 02:07 PM	#9
jjwill_sdsu Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arnold, MO Posts: 316	Yup, I'm using the BRS reactor with the special insert as well. I haven't noticed any clumping yet... Do they normally float to the top? I have mine running off of my manifold so I'm not sure how much flow I'm running through them, but they've been tumbling nicely. I also have the outlet from the reactor running to near my skimmer intake, so I'm guessing that might help to reduce the risk of a cyano outbreak. __________________ "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 144 gallon half cylinder, 40 gal sump, mixed reef, 2x250W MH

01/29/2011, 08:42 PM	#15
jjwill_sdsu Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arnold, MO Posts: 316	Yup, I think you definitely want the majority of your reactor output to go to your skimmer. I'm just unsure if you want 100% to go to your skimmer, or if a little slipping by might be good. My skimmer is in-sump, and I just have the reactor outlet hose pointing to within a couple inches of the skimmers intake, but I'm sure there's a fair amount that doesn't get sucked in. I haven't looked enough at people's experience with externally fed skimmers and pellet reactors to know how most are doing it... __________________ "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 144 gallon half cylinder, 40 gal sump, mixed reef, 2x250W MH

01/11/2010, 08:13 PM	#2
elijaher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kansas City,Missouri Posts: 1,188	Have you chek out this thread? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=solid+vodka

01/11/2010, 09:52 PM	#3
Maverick2009 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 427	Yep, read that the other day and it made me want to try it. It kinda looks like an easier Zeo system.

01/26/2011, 10:23 PM	#4
kingfisherflesh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Central WI Posts: 374	Been reading through a lot of these threads recently on here...anyone know of one that has a lot of mixed, long term experiences with them? There is one for ecobak, but its not very well organized, and is lacking pictures, and specific numbers/values on results. Some things have sounded really positive, while others sound downright depressing.

01/27/2011, 12:15 PM	#7
tall_jason79 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: saint louis county (soco) Posts: 3,692	Any issues with clumping? I noticed while reading through numerous threads is that many people experience the bio pellets clumping together. This lead to many people "shaking" their reactors to get the clumps to break apart. The smaller pieces then travel to the display and in many cases causing cyano to form? What reactor are you using with your current set up?

01/27/2011, 01:13 PM	#8
soh15 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Saint Louis MO, South County Posts: 60	I have been using 500ml from BRS in a BRS reactor. Love them. Water is very clear, NO3/PO levels down to 0. They will clump if set level after they start to work (30days). I found if you tilt the reactor at a small angle they will roll like you need them to, They make a loop/ circle. Had some cyano at first but dialed the maxjet1200 back a little and no more cyano. Tank is a 120 with 40gal sump. Corals look great, better then ever, really color up. Key for me was a slow tumble and wait... I am using GFO with them also.

01/27/2011, 06:46 PM	#10
tall_jason79 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: saint louis county (soco) Posts: 3,692	my skimmer is external so i thought i could T the skimmer feed and dump the reactor directly to the skimmer. Any thoughts?

01/29/2011, 04:53 PM	#11
Aqua Man 07 fastest reefer on 2wheels Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: east alton il Posts: 2,720	so if you use the pellets do you still use carbon or gfo

01/29/2011, 07:56 PM	#14
tall_jason79 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: saint louis county (soco) Posts: 3,692	well from what i have read you want the output of the reactor to drain next to the skimmer to pull the bacteria that has escaped to prevent a bloom of sorts?