I read here that LACL irritates tangs. I have a powder blue and a hippo tang, and do not want to add anything that will bother them. So I plan to stick with the GFO only. I'll definitely let you know how it goes.
Yes, I share that concern too, as I have 5 Tangs (PBT, PT, GT, YT and WTB) in my 120G.
I subscribed to LaCl over GFO for the same reason. Like GFO, LaCl does lower ALK too. I only use TM ELIMI PHOS RAPID over the swimming pool stuff, granted it works, just that you have to get the dilution right. I did carbon dose with TM ELIMI NP and TM NP BACTO BALANCE for a while with mixed results, therefore I decided to try the biopellets plus bacteria route to reduce the nutrients holistically without resorting the tweaking them individually. Of course, in due process, adjust with GFO/LaCl to the bacteria nutrient consumption ratio.
Wasn’t aware lanthanum leeches into solution and thought it precipitated into fine particles that can be mechanically filtered out. Could this lanthanum be from another source.I subscribed to LaCl over GFO for the same reason. Like GFO, LaCl does lower ALK too. I only use TM ELIMI PHOS RAPID over the swimming pool stuff, granted it works, just that you have to get the dilution right. I did carbon dose with TM ELIMI NP and TM NP BACTO BALANCE for a while with mixed results, therefore I decided to try the biopellets plus bacteria route to reduce the nutrients holistically without resorting the tweaking them individually. Of course, in due process, adjust with GFO/LaCl to the bacteria nutrient consumption ratio.
FWIW, my JUN2022 ICP showed an higher than norm Lanthnum in my trace.
Can’t think of any other source of lanthanum but from at LaCl additions, could be that I added too fast at times to the skimmer neck and the skimmer couldn’t remove all the bonded lanthanum phosphate in time. Lanthanum was absent from the ICP prior to the last one.
I’m seeing a steady drop in NO3 but nothing on PO4…I’m getting a lot of gunk choking up the sponge on my NYOS TORQ reactor, need to clean every other day, maybe it’s not the right one for biopellets…not sure I would run without the sponge. Anyone done that?
I'm using the Torq for biopellets, and had the same issue. But I took out the sponge, and am just careful to not let the pellets tumble too close to the top. I haven't had an issue after that. It would have to be one magic pellet to make it's way out through the top. Even if one did, it would just fall to the bottom of the sump and eventually just get eaten up by bacteria there.
An added benefit is I can dose MB7 directly into the biopellets without having to go through the sponge. I just turn off the reactor, add the MB7 right through the top, then turn it back on a few minutes later. I added MB7 today for the first time in about a week. Will make that a weekly task.
On my progress with GFO and biopellets, like you, I am seeing a consistent drop in nitrates. Slow after the initial big drops, but still going down consistently.
Mixed feelings about GFO, since it works well, but a mess in changing it out. The initial 2 cups depleted yesterday after 5 days, and I waited until today for confirmation, and phosphates continued their ascent. So I switched out the GFO with 1.5 cups today.
I use the Torq for GFO as well, and some got stuck in the grating on the bottom, and took awhile to clean it out. Then the rinsing of the Torq and sponge and GFO, some fines in the sump, etc.. Looking for a larger size GFO with less dust and won't clog the bottom Torq grate. I'm using AquaMaxx Phosphate Out Pro at the moment. It's old, but I had a whole canister of it laying around.
Just the reply I need. I too was dosing Waste Away directly onto the pellets and letting it sit, while I unclogged the sponge. Nice idea I must say removing the sponge totally!I'm using the Torq for biopellets, and had the same issue. But I took out the sponge, and am just careful to not let the pellets tumble too close to the top. I haven't had an issue after that. It would have to be one magic pellet to make it's way out through the top. Even if one did, it would just fall to the bottom of the sump and eventually just get eaten up by bacteria there.
An added benefit is I can dose MB7 directly into the biopellets without having to go through the sponge. I just turn off the reactor, add the MB7 right through the top, then turn it back on a few minutes later. I added MB7 today for the first time in about a week. Will make that a weekly task.
On my progress with GFO and biopellets, like you, I am seeing a consistent drop in nitrates. Slow after the initial big drops, but still going down consistently.
Mixed feelings about GFO, since it works well, but a mess in changing it out. The initial 2 cups depleted yesterday after 5 days, and I waited until today for confirmation, and phosphates continued their ascent. So I switched out the GFO with 1.5 cups today.
I use the Torq for GFO as well, and some got stuck in the grating on the bottom, and took awhile to clean it out. Then the rinsing of the Torq and sponge and GFO, some fines in the sump, etc.. Looking for a larger size GFO with less dust and won't clog the bottom Torq grate. I'm using AquaMaxx Phosphate Out Pro at the moment. It's old, but I had a whole canister of it laying around.
Instead of turning off the GFO reactor totally at times, you may try turning down the flow so that you can only see the top layer moving ever so slightly, so they process less water and last longer.Just did an intra-day check and phosphates have plummeted from 0.33 to 0.12 over the past 8 hours, or 0.025 per hour. I have turned off the GFO reactor for now. Apparently it is quite effective in my tank. I have to evaluate running a smaller amount of GFO and/or turning on the reactor only for a certain amount of time per day.
