GFO Reactor?

[tmccaff]

I just added the CPR tumbler reactor today. I read my tank is 0.481 ppm using Hanna 736 and coming out of the reactor is measuring 0.55ppm it is for sure lower. However, should I add more GFO? Should I wait a couple of days and check again? Shouldn't the water coming out of the GFO read zero or close to? Makes me wonder if I didn't add enough or that my tank is really high and thats why.

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

I have never tried measuring the phosphate out of a reactor but if your phosphate is truly .55ppm then you will need a lot of GFO to lower it.

 

[tmccaff]

Well I tested through Hanna and got my ATI results and all say same thing phosphates around .50ppm. I am using 1 cup right now for 60 gallon tank volume.

 

[tmccaff]

Ok, I added GFO and now reading 10ppb on hanna 736 which I understand is ay 0.03 I should stop using GFO now correct and keep an eye out?

 

[dedragon]

yea I would stop the gfo as you dropped it way too fast. Check if there are any issues with corals. Any lower and you will start bottoming out

 

[MrGisonni]

Slower is always better

 

[tmccaff]

Ok, if I mix carbon and gfo together would 4 tablespoons (2/3 of suggested amount) to only 1 tablespoon GFO be sufficient?

 

[Spare time]

I have never tried measuring the phosphate out of a reactor but if your phosphate is truly .55ppm then you will need a lot of GFO to lower it.

Eh it takes a lot less gfo than you think

 

[tmccaff]

Yes I realized that now.

 

[dedragon]

watch out if you are tumbling the carbon it will grind down to dust. I find carbon and gfo are usually fine without a reactor and just in a high flow area of smaller tanks (60 is medium to small). It also lowers the risk of bottoming out nutrients.

 

[tmccaff]

I put sponges between and not tumbling. Yea I was thinking media bags as well just got this reactor. Will try and lower media see what happens. thanks for helping all

 

[mrpontiac80]

Be very careful. I have a 65 gallon tank and I mix my gfo with carbon and place in between sponges to keep the carbon from tumbling and the gfo from clumping.

My mix ratio is 4 Tbsp gfo and 5 Tbsp of carbon. It’s worked great, my problem was that I did not like the swings with fresh media. So I just switched to Brightwell aquatics Phospate-e. I have only dosed once so the jury is still out. But my initial dose of phosphat-e was 50% of the recommended dose. I have learned to dose or use less than recommended on everything. As they all say.. slow is better. Quick changes will get you in trouble.

good luck!

 

[MrGisonni]

Less is more sometimes. I have a reactor I don't use sitting in a closet. If you are still worried about phosphate a couple grams should suffice....just under a half of a teaspoon.

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

Maybe I am alone. The reason I use Lanthanum is because when I add an entire 300gm container of GFO in my tank after 2 weeks it is exhausted and can't keep up with phosphate removal.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Maybe I am alone. The reason I use Lanthanum is because when I add an entire 300gm container of GFO in my tank after 2 weeks it is exhausted and can't keep up with phosphate removal.

This is the reason I just switched. My gfo on first 24 hrs of new media would drop me to where I want, but after 2 weeks it was climbing up again and I felt the up and downs of .1+ in two weeks can’t be helpful