GFO problem

[Reefnewb]

Shouldnt the out put of GFO read zero? I am using a hanna ULR checker and just replaced GFO 20TBSpns (BRS high capacity) The phosphates of the tank are about 60ppb, and the output of the reactor is 15ppb. Any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance! happy reefing!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That would assume a 100% efficiency of the product.

 

[Reefnewb]

That would assume a 100% efficiency of the product.

True, but most people say that GFO output should be zero. That’s what i remembered. I just wish i could get passed this stupid phosphate issue.

 

[Forsaken77]

Shouldnt the out put of GFO read zero? I am using a hanna ULR checker and just replaced GFO 20TBSpns (BRS high capacity) The phosphates of the tank are about 60ppb, and the output of the reactor is 15ppb. Any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance! happy reefing!

Just out of curiosity... Was it 15ppb before, or after, doing the conversion math to phosphate?

 

[GoVols]

Shouldnt the out put of GFO read zero? I am using a hanna ULR checker and just replaced GFO 20TBSpns (BRS high capacity) The phosphates of the tank are about 60ppb, and the output of the reactor is 15ppb. Any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance! happy reefing!

Either way try to bring down your phosphates nice a slow with GFO.
If you bring the phosphates down to fast it could shock your reef.

I'd start off with a lower dose than whats recommended on the bottle and slowly work the way up to what your long term GFO dose is, for your reef.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

True, but most people say that GFO output should be zero. That’s what i remembered. I just wish i could get passed this stupid phosphate issue.

People say the darndest things.

 

[GoVols]

True, but most people say that GFO output should be zero. That’s what i remembered. I just wish i could get passed this stupid phosphate issue.

I've been tumbling GFO in it's own reactor for years but I don't know if the output reads zero and that might be to aggressive.

I'd just take it nice a slow and keep up with the main displays readings.
I used to use the math formula with the ULR checker for conversion but this chart is spot on.

ppb to ppm

 

[Reefnewb]

Just out of curiosity... Was it 15ppb before, or after, doing the conversion math to phosphate?

15ppb is before the conversion since that’s whah the meter reads in. 15ppb concerted would be 0.045ppm

Either way try to bring down your phosphates nice a slow with GFO.
If you bring the phosphates down to fast it could shock your reef.

I'd start off with a lower dose than whats recommended on the bottle and slowly work the way up to what your long term GFO dose is, for your reef.

The tank has nothing but rock and sand in it. Been running this way for about 3 weeks. I have been trying to get phosphates down.

 

[recess62]

People say the darndest things.

Tears in my eyes

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

15ppb is before the conversion since that’s whah the meter reads in. 15ppb concerted would be 0.045ppm



The tank has nothing but rock and sand in it. Been running this way for about 3 weeks. I have been trying to get phosphates down.

What's your Po4 @

And also as the Bactria (biofilter ) form, the Po4 will go down.

 

[recess62]

15ppb is before the conversion since that’s whah the meter reads in. 15ppb concerted would be 0.045ppm



The tank has nothing but rock and sand in it. Been running this way for about 3 weeks. I have been trying to get phosphates down.

Was this dead dry live rock? was this live rock cured?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Tears in my eyes

You just rembered what some of them had said didn't you ?

Sorry.

 

[rkpetersen]

OP, you're saying that you have 60 ppb phosphorus, yes? 60 on the Hanna ULR Checker? Equal to a phosphate of roughly .18. Higher than you want.

That GFO efficiency isn't bad; it'll bring your level down fast enough. There are others that might be even more aggressive about grabbing phosphate fast; RowaPhos comes to mind. I agree with GoVols, though; drop your phosphate too fast and you can shock/bleach your corals, especially LPS if you keep any.

Personally, I only use GFO when the phosphorus level rises a bit, and then I remove it when the level has dropped to the 5-10 range. I don't want 00 phosphorus.

 

[Reefnewb]

What's your Po4 @

And also as the Bactria (biofilter ) form, the Po4 will go down.

They were at 60ppb today when i tested in the morning.... before i started running GFO last week they were at 200+

Was this dead dry live rock? was this live rock cured?

It was dry rock used in friends tank. I did an acid bath because he said he was having phosphate issues too.

OP, you're saying that you have 60 ppb phosphorus, yes? 60 on the Hanna ULR Checker? Equal to a phosphate of roughly .18. Higher than you want.

That GFO efficiency isn't bad; it'll bring your level down fast enough. There are others that might be even more aggressive about grabbing phosphate fast; RowaPhos comes to mind. I agree with GoVols, though; drop your phosphate too fast and you can shock/bleach your corals, especially LPS if you keep any.

Personally, I only use GFO when the phosphorus level rises a bit, and then I remove it when the level has dropped to the 5-10 range. I don't want 00 phosphorus.

What's your Po4 @

And also as the Bactria (biofilter ) form, the Po4 will go down.

Yes i have 60ppb in the tank. 15ppb after reactor, and there is only rock and sand in the tank. It has been running this way for 3 weeks.

 

[recess62]

So if you have no live stock in the tank the only source of your phosphate is your rock. If your rock was dry/dead and is very porous it maybe loaded with copious amounts of organic material which is gonna decay and release phosphate for possiblably many months

 

[saltyhog]

Thats about what I would expect. GFO won't remove all PO4 with one pass through the reactor. Monitor the effluent and when it rises close to what the tank is your GFO is exhausted and needs to be changed. this can happen pretty fast with PO4 levels like you have. If you don't have corals yet you don't have to go slow, you can be more aggressive.

 

[Reefnewb]

So if you have no live stock in the tank the only source of your phosphate is your rock. If your rock was dry/dead and is very porous it maybe loaded with copious amounts of organic material which is gonna decay and release phosphate for possiblably many months

Yeah I’m just suprised that there are phosphates still in the rock. I acid washed them very aggressively.

Thats about what I would expect. GFO won't remove all PO4 with one pass through the reactor. Monitor the effluent and when it rises close to what the tank is your GFO is exhausted and needs to be changed. this can happen pretty fast with PO4 levels like you have. If you don't have corals yet you don't have to go slow, you can be more aggressive.

Yeah that was the plan. Thank you

 

[PatW]

I have heard that as GFO reaches phosphate saturation, it will start to release phosphate. I guess phosphate does not irreversibly bind to GFO. Also, it is a bit by guess and by gosh with GFO. Unlike DI resin, you don’t get a color change on GFO as it becomes phosphate saturated.

 

[Reefnewb]

I have heard that as GFO reaches phosphate saturation, it will start to release phosphate. I guess phosphate does not irreversibly bind to GFO. Also, it is a bit by guess and by gosh with GFO. Unlike DI resin, you don’t get a color change on GFO as it becomes phosphate saturated.

I don’t know, iv used GFO on many tanks and never had this problem. Iv been replacing GFO every couple days and they won’t go below 40ppb