Carbon VS GFO?

[ReefReadyYouTube]

Should a I run carbon or GFO in my media basket? I’ve been using GFO for a while and I don’t feel like it’s doing a good job. I just bought some carbon and I’m hoping it would do better than the GFO. What is your experience with GFO and carbon which is better to run in a tank?

 

[Idoc]

Carbon and GFO do different things for a reef tank. What is the end result you are wanting to accomplish?

 

[dbjonesjr]

Granular ferric oxide is used for phosphate removal. Carbon is used for water clarification through removal of organics and other impurities. They have different purposes. Run one if you have high phosphates, and the other if you’re looking for extra water clarity.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

Carbon and GFO do different things for a reef tank. What is the end result you are wanting to accomplish?

Cleaner water. I have a slight algae problem.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

What about chemi pure blue? Is that a good filter media?

 

[Idoc]

Cleaner water. I have a slight algae problem.

What are your water parameters?

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

What are your water parameters?

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Phosphate .20ppm
Calcium 430ppm
DKH 10
PH 8.2
Best way to control phosphate?

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

Does anyone dose H2O2?? Can this help?

 

[Bnichols124]

How old is your tank? Out of curiosity
Your bio load and feeding habits as well

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

You don't want to carbon dose with 0 nitrates. You could use GFO to reduce phosphate, but be careful not to remove all of the phosphate because your corals need that to grow. Your nitrates are to low as well. Have you thought about using macroalgea? That might be better suited for tour situation?

 

[Idoc]

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Phosphate .20ppm
Calcium 430ppm
DKH 10
PH 8.2
Best way to control phosphate?

I personally would dose up my nitrates to around 10-15ppm... and watch your po4 slowly reduce naturally! You don't want that no3/po4 disparity of 0/0.2ppm. GFO will drop that po4 to zero and then you are risking dinos occurring.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

I personally would dose up my nitrates to around 10-15ppm... and watch your po4 slowly reduce naturally! You don't want that no3/po4 disparity of 0/0.2ppm. GFO will drop that po4 to zero and then you are risking dinos occurring.

How do I dose nitrates properly? I thought nitrates were bad also What’s a good test kit for nitrates? I use API test kits.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

How old is your tank? Out of curiosity
Your bio load and feeding habits as well

About 5 months. And I feed 1-2 times a day.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

You don't want to carbon dose with 0 nitrates. You could use GFO to reduce phosphate, but be careful not to remove all of the phosphate because your corals need that to grow. Your nitrates are to low as well. Have you thought about using macroalgea? That might be better suited for tour situation?

What would be the benefits of using macroalgae? Lower phosphates? How do you increase nitrates.

 

[Idoc]

How do I dose nitrates properly? I thought nitrates were bad also What’s a good test kit for nitrates? I use API test kits.

Nitrates aren't bad...just should be kept in moderation! It also depends what kind of corals you really want to keep in your aquarium. I dose with Loudwolf Sodium Nitrate....make up a solution in RODI water and dose a few milliliters at a time until my nitrates are holding steady where I want them.

I use the Salifert Nitrate test kit. I'm not sure how accurate the API nitrate testing kit is, though.

 

[Idoc]

What would be the benefits of using macroalgae? Lower phosphates? How do you increase nitrates.

Yes, macroalgae (like chaeto) in a refugium help to reduce phosphates and nitrates naturally. I have not had success growing chaeto in my refugium...I'm obviously the odd ball here for that since everyone seems to be able to grow it easily! I plan on giving it another try here very soon, though.

 

[Idoc]

What kind of food are you feeding? I believe I saw in an earlier post you are feeding twice a day...how much each feeding?

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

What kind of food are you feeding? I believe I saw in an earlier post you are feeding twice a day...how much each feeding?

Flakes. Mainly ones a day. Prime reef flakes to be exact. I know they have phosphate in them.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

Nitrates aren't bad...just should be kept in moderation! It also depends what kind of corals you really want to keep in your aquarium. I dose with Loudwolf Sodium Nitrate....make up a solution in RODI water and dose a few milliliters at a time until my nitrates are holding steady where I want them.

I use the Salifert Nitrate test kit. I'm not sure how accurate the API nitrate testing kit is, though.

Do you need nitrates? What the benefit?

 

[dbjonesjr]

Do you need nitrates? What the benefit?

Nitrates are required by corals Our local frag guy keeps his around 15 ppm for color and growth. Phosphates will impede growth. As he says, “keep them as high as you can while it is something your cleanup crew can maintain”.