Dosing organic carbon has become a popular technique in reducing nitrates and phosphates in reef tanks. Basically, by constanly supplying an organic carbon source to a reef tank, it encourages bacteria to grow and reproduce rapidly. Because of this, nutrients in the water (including nitrates and phosphates) are used up and thus lowering their levels. I have been carbon dosing (vodka) since August 2009 — I know it works.

A new kind of organic carbon product came out late 2009 — biopellets (solid organic carbon pellets). Due to its popularity, other companies started manufacturing and selling their own biopellets, and by the end of 2010, there were so many different biopellet products in the market.

Hobbyists started using their media reactors for biopellets only to find out that to make the biopelelts more effective it should keep tumbling and not clump up and clog inside the reactor. DIYers started modding their reactors, removing the foam pads and replacing them with circular plastic meshes. A stronger pump was needed to keep the pellets tumbling. Then came biopellet reactors.

I have been waiting for a good biopellet reactor to reaplce my vodka dosing routine. When GBD blogged about the upcoming reactor from LSS Laboratory and Reef Octopus, I was all over it. Well, I finally got one and here are my impressions.

Read the full review and a special coupon offer after the jump.