GFO or no GFO when carbon dosing

[FrugalReefer]

I don't want to debate if carbon dosing reduces nitrates only or reduces both nitrates and phosphates. There is info out there saying it only impacts nitrate levels and does nothing for reducing phosphates and then you'll find the same amount of other info saying it impacts both NO3 and PO4. Also, I've seen a lot of awesome reef tanks utilizing both carbon dosing and some type of phosphate removal media and a lot of awesome algae free reef tanks utilizing carbon dosing without any phosphate removal media whatsoever. Whether one is true and the other is false or not doesn't concern me, what I want to know is . . .

 

[Devisissy]

I think this has been done to death my friend.

Can we add an option?

Pies. Pumpkin or Pecan?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I used vinegar dosing and GFO.

 

[00W]

I used biopellets and gfo for about 4 months now use nothing but algae scrubber.

 

[jda]

How much po4 are you looking to remove? I am one who believes that po4 does decline with OC, but just not very much... so if I had a lot of po4, I might use GFO too, but maybe not if po4 was not too high.

If algae free is your goal, neither of these will get you there, IMO. Those other algae free tanks like have lots of cleaners. I have no3 around .1 and po4 at 1-5 ppb and I would have algae everywhere without my urchins.

 

[Devisissy]

I used vinegar dosing and GFO.

Pumpkin or Pecan Randy? Come on this is important.

 

[Devisissy]

I used biopellets and gfo for about 4 months now use nothing but algae scrubber.

This is my plan. I am very excited to have a disgusting mat of slimy algae to irritate the wife with.

 

[Scottiemac]

I run carbon, biopellets, and GFO. Biopellets when the nitrates get over 10ppm. GFO when the phosphate is over .05. Carbon when the tank looks dirty. Works for me.