VIDEO: AquaMaxx EcoMaxx 100

Here's a short video I've been meaning to post since the first day I started running biopellets. You can see the Hydra Biopellet Reactor and my new AquaMaxx EcoMaxx EM100 In-Sump Protein Skimmer. Skimmer cup needed some cleaning, but you can see the dark skim it's removed.

The noise in the video is NOT the skimmer, it's the biopellets and pump. The skimmer is essentially silent! Full review coming soon!

Biopellet Progress

We're almost a month into Project Biopellet - Take II (name still tentative). For the first two weeks, I added 1/4 cups of Biopellets weekly. For the first two weeks, I also added Two Little Fishies Bioactiv8 on a daily basis. I would turn off the return pump for a few minutes and add the bacterial innoculant directly into the sump chamber where the biopellet reactor is located. I would then leave my protein skimmer off for an hour after adding this.

So far, no problems. I have seen a huge reduction in cyano bacteria growth that was present before I started the biopellet system again. There has also been a reduction in the growth of hair algae, though some still exists. I will continue to remove either cyano or algae as I see it during water changes. Coral look healthy. I'm seeing polyp extension and no loss of color. 

Trying Biopellets... Again.

My previous experience with biopellets wasn't bad. I removed the system to see if the low nutrient environment was causing some issues with my soft coral. I had some zoanthids that were closed up and were dying off. I removed the system, and figured out there were a few unrelated issues (including a hitch hiking crab) that were at fault. Oops.

(Read more after the jump!)