Acros and GFO

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Skimmer went down a couple of months ago and I haven't had a chance to repair it yet. As a result, my Phosphates have been steadily rising. I have increased my weekly water changes to almost 30% to combat this, but it's not quite enough to keep up. Phosphates are approaching .5 now before my weekly water changes.
Has anyone used GFO as a temporary measure to reduce phosphates without any I'll effects on your system?
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
I always run GFO on my Nano 15 gall reef with no side effects. how big is your tank? and can you purchase Reactor?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
That seems like a lot. I actually have the BRS stuff. The package says 1tbsp/8 gal. Any reason you are recommending a double dose?
 
I prefer phosgaurd over gfo.
1/2 of a cup in a mesh bag in my 120 will keep po4 below .1 when it gets above that range.
Go slow as it can work very fast if you over do it to start.
1/4 cup in your system is a good start.
 
WWC
I see. I think I'll start slow... Half dose sounds reasonable. Last thing I want to do is shock the system. There is no emergency at this point. Corals are all happy and growing. I just don't want Phosphates to keep rising beyond a reasonable level.
Thank you two for your input!
 
Just go slow and any method is OK. LC is cheap and easy, but can really get away from you if you add too much. GFO and Aluminum Oxide (phosguard) will only bind to equilibrium, so they always leave some behind.

Remember that the aragonite in the rock and sand will have bound a massive amount of phosphate that will release as the water column level goes down. There is likely a large reservoir there. The goal is to remove the P in the water slowly and consistently so that the rock has time to release on the same schedule and that you don't spike down when adding media, and then spike back up when the rock releases more. GFO can become saturated in a few hours if you have a high level like .50 and run a good flow through it, so using a very small amount and changing it every day will work.

Remember that GFO and Al Oxide will also release back into the system if the water levels go down, so make sure and change the media if you change water or else the old GFO will just release some back into the water like a ticked off Phosphate Ninja.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Thank you @jda. That is very helpful. I just did a ~25 gal change today and tested PO4 afterwards. Came in a .28. that means it was in the ~.45 range prior to the change. Not crazy high or anything, but I really don't want it to start running away on me. I'll get some more media bags and do as you suggested.
 
In a few days, it will likely go back up to just about where it was before. This is the aragonite unbinding the phosphate now that the water level is lower.
 
Dropped in 5tbsp of GFO and RoX carbon this morning. I'll monitor it and just see how it goes. If it stabilizes or drops just a little, I'll be happy with that.
Heck, if I can get it stable with going back to 10 gallon changes weekly, and the corals stay happy, I may just leave that noisy sob off.
 
Tidal Gardens
It should go down by tonight. Test again tomorrow. Once it starts to go back up, this is how long the media lasted and you know how fast that you can change it. If it was in a reactor, then it was probably exhausted in a few hours. If it was in a bag, then who know since flow and all of that is so variable.
 
Well, as it turns out, I'm down to my last packet of ULR reagent. Thought I had another box, but it was the alk stuff. Will test tonight or tomorrow and then again on Thursday when my new stuff comes in.
 
Nutramar Foods
Update on this.
Phosphates are still pretty high. Fixed the skimmer and have been running 8tbsp GFO. PO4 was .55 yesterday before water change and .30 after. I changed out the GFO and it is back up to .37 this morning.
Starting to wonder if I need to up the GFO dosage.
 
No. Do not change the dosage. This is just the way that it works... you absorb some and the aragonite releases. You don't want that valley and spike back up to be too much or stress happens. Less changed out more often is better.

This could take a lot of GFO if you tank has a lot of bound phosphate. Friend used a 5g bucket of the stuff on his 180 to get it down (and stay down). If you want to stay after it, buy it in bulk.
 
Tidal Gardens
Well, Good news. Phosphates were down to .29 this morning. Not a large drop and could just be testing error, but at least they're not rising anymore!
I might have to look into LC if this is going to be a long-term project. Does LC just bind the phosphate and gas off?
 
I would use LC to bring down Phosphate to desired level then add GFO to maintain at that level , LC is powerful stuff just 6 drops in my 40b brang phosphate down by .15
 
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