Zotalpha Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I have been running bio pellets for about a year and a half, most of the time I love them. Historically my tank had maintained 2-3 ppm nitrate (salifert) and phosphate at about 0.05 (Hanna). About two month ago I noticed everything going pale on me, also tons of cyano. I tested, Nitrate 0 phosphate 0. I increased feeding added a fish or 2 and started dosing amino. 2 months later still testing 0, color is better but nowhere near what it used to be. I was reading that some people have had great luck with dosing potassium nitrate using Spectracide Stump Remover. Has anybody here tried this or something similar? I know I should probably consider pulling the pellets but I hate doing water changes!!!!!! Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I would get rid of the biopellets. You will be testing all of the time if you are using biopellets to strip your water and then dosing nitrate to put it back. Most people who try that get frustrated. If you hate water changes, I would get an algae scrubber to lower nutrients. Then get some good algae eating fish, like Kole or Tomini Tangs, Rabbitfish, to keep the algae limited to the scrubber. Here's a nice one: http://www.santa-monica.cc/RAIN2-Pole-Mountable-Waterfall-Algae-Scrubber-ATS-with-Green-Grabber-screen-and-GEM5-lights--2-cubes-a-day-feeding_p_87.html (They also have cheaper ones, and you can always try a DIY scrubber.) Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zotalpha Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 I kinda thought everyone would say ditch the pellets! It's a shame they did exactly what I wanted them to do for over a year! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Just a tip for removing pellets, dont do it all at once. Ive read too many threads about tank crashes from removing all bio pellets at once. Good luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I have been running bio pellets for about a year and a half, most of the time I love them. Historically my tank had maintained 2-3 ppm nitrate (salifert) and phosphate at about 0.05 (Hanna). About two month ago I noticed everything going pale on me, also tons of cyano. I tested, Nitrate 0 phosphate 0. I increased feeding added a fish or 2 and started dosing amino. 2 months later still testing 0, color is better but nowhere near what it used to be. I was reading that some people have had great luck with dosing potassium nitrate using Spectracide Stump Remover. Has anybody here tried this or something similar? I know I should probably consider pulling the pellets but I hate doing water changes!!!!!! Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk For what it's worth, you can also get potassium nitrate in powder form. From my understanding, the stump remover is indeed pure KNO3, but just mixed in solution. Powder form potassium nitrate is used a great deal in the freshwater planted world (as well as agricultural obviously). About 3 bucks for a pound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesmiles902 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 For what it's worth, you can also get potassium nitrate in powder form. From my understanding, the stump remover is indeed pure KNO3, but just mixed in solution. Powder form potassium nitrate is used a great deal in the freshwater planted world (as well as agricultural obviously). About 3 bucks for a pound. Wait, wait, wait! From my understanding root killer is Copper Nitrate or Cu(II)NO3. If the stuff you buy looks blue, stay away!!! Copper is deadly to almost all lifeforms. Just read the ingredients. It would tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Can't you just run less pellets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Wait, wait, wait! From my understanding root killer is Copper Nitrate or Cu(II)NO3. If the stuff you buy looks blue, stay away!!! Copper is deadly to almost all lifeforms. Just read the ingredients. It would tell you. 100% potassium nitrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) Sorry that was much clearer when I screen shot it. It's a bit ineligible, but it says 100 percent at the bottom. Edited January 18, 2017 by Higher Thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zotalpha Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Can't you just run less pellets? I tried less pellets, didn't seem to do anything. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zotalpha Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Wait, wait, wait! From my understanding root killer is Copper Nitrate or Cu(II)NO3. If the stuff you buy looks blue, stay away!!! Copper is deadly to almost all lifeforms. Just read the ingredients. It would tell you. Yeah they claim it's 100% potassium nitrate. There is tons of info on R2R. It seems like people really have success with it there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesmiles902 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 I thought it would be good to warn you, rather than say never use root killer. Some people out there do things recklessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zotalpha Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 I thought it would be good to warn you, rather than say never use root killer. Some people out there do things recklessly. Much appreciated! Carbon dosing means I can just spill some gin and tonic in the tank right?!? Haha. People definitely do some crazy things. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 .......There is tons of info on R2R. It seems like people really have success with it there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk There is a group of people trying it, but they are not very successful in my opinion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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