Brightwell Aquatics Bio Fuel

anyone on this site using the above product?
I purchased a bottle today and am going to trial it on my reef tank for the duration of this bottle (provided nobody shouts - dont do it Steve! at me)

My test kits tell me I have 0 Nitrates and Phosphates
but the green colouration on my rock work, tells me my test kits are not as fast as the micro algae I am presently culturing

I have been reading that Vodka dosing or Biopellets can be used to help reduce a problem of the type I am experiencing

but stumbled across the Brightwell range in a LFS this afternoon and figured it seems a safer option to Vodka dosing and more convenient than running with the pellets

so anyone, any experience of this product?

Steve

 

doesn't answer your question, but FWIW, I run the WM ecobak pellets in a bag that hangs in my overflow... until I ran these I always had about 5-10 measurable nitrates. now, it's zero. since I don't run a reactor, it was very easy to do. I've also noticed a marked difference in coral coloration, and they're all much nicer looking.

 

Thank you Will

I do have a unopened pack of BP biopellets but as yet, have not got around to trying them .
bag hanging in the overflow, gives me an idea - reactors are not a common use item where I am , so sourcing is a pain
but maybe a bag in an Aquaclear HOB filter I still have could prove effective

Steve

 

I don't see why not... just be patient with it... it took about 3-4 months before I noticed the nitrates/phosphates started to drop and corals colored up, then another couple of months for my algae to be gone. Since then, it's been smooth sailing...

I personally find measured liquid carbon (vodka, etc) dosing to be too much of a chore to make it something I would want to start and do regularly...

I have read reports of folks kick-starting their bacterial mass by starting with vodka dosing and then doing pellets... have also read of this potentially causing cyano outbreaks, so I am not sure if it's the best thing to do.

 

DO NOT overdose. I did and BAM, Cyano. Also, look into Microbactor7 first for a couple weeks, then following it up with the Biofuel. Thats the route Im going.

 

unreal - I also purchased that product, simply because it stated it was OK in freshwater also, and I have a new FW set up cycling thats a bit cloudy so I figured some additional bacteria might help me out on that set up

Steve

 

Do tell? Did you post a thread about this newest aquatic adventure?

 

Not yet amcarrig

I posted a thread about using a 6 x 54 watt T5 unit to illuminate the tank
its been stood empty on my balcony since August
I figured - focus on 1 reef tank, but then an empty tank is just a temptation to me, so I figured plants, bogwood and Tetras

Steve

 

Steve - I've been using MB7 and BioFuel for awhile now with pretty great results. I'm very happy with them both. I started out with the recommended doses - making sure to use just mb7 for a week or two to build up a bacteria colony followed by carefully measured amounts of the fuel. I now just squirt some MB7 in the tank and measure a cap full of fuel out and add. Not very scientific or exact - but works well for me and takes only a couple seconds per day to do.

The combination destroyed a bad case of GHA I had and has held my N&P's at 0 for months according to Salifert and Hanna. The water is very clear, never had problems with bacterial blooms but I have had very small dustings of diatoms once in awhile that could be attributed to the combination, though. Usually it will be the size of a 9V battery and then disappear after a day.

I'm a fan - and would recommend it.

 

Thanks very much
very helpfull - Im glad I got them both now

Ill be starting tomorrow - now I have a plan of action.

Steve