GFO To Remove Phosphates

[kileki]

I got my first coral recently and my phosphate level is at 1.0, I was using tap water with prime conditioner until recently when I started using RO/DI water, will adding a bag of GFO to my HOB Filter have any harm to my fish or coral?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

GFO to my knowledge has no adverse effects on corals or livestock.

 

[Minifoot77]

I wouldnt think so just go slow and don't strip it all out to fast... I use 1/2 cup in an 80 gallon system

 

[kileki]

I wouldnt think so just go slow and don't strip it all out to fast... I use 1/2 cup in an 80 gallon system

It's a Seachem pouch, so it's all in 1 mesh bag

 

[Reef.]

It's a Seachem pouch, so it's all in 1 mesh bag

Depending on size of tank, that could be an expensive way to do it, if a big tank you would find it a lot cheaper to use rowaphos or similar and bag it yourself as 1.0 if a large tank will take a lot of gfo to remove it.

 

[kileki]

Depending on size of tank, that could be an expensive way to do it, if a big tank you would find it a lot cheaper to use rowaphos or similar and bag it yourself as 1.0 if a large tank will take a lot of gfo to remove it.

It is a 40gal tall tank

 

[shutterspeed1000]

I went through this a few months ago. Phosphates hit 0.9, and nothing would bring it down. I finally added GFO in a bag, and it dropped to 0.5 in about two weeks. Now I use a reactor, and it sits steady at 0.2. No harm I noticed.

Add GFO slowly and monitor it. Some of my coral took a little while to open back up when it first dropped. I used half of what they recommend in my 56g tank. I don't want to strip out all of it.

 

[kileki]

I went through this a few months ago. Phosphates hit 0.9, and nothing would bring it down. I finally added GFO in a bag, and it dropped to 0.5 in about two weeks. Now I use a reactor, and it sits steady at 0.2. No harm I noticed.

Add GFO slowly and monitor it. Some of my coral took a little while to open back up when it first dropped. I used half of what they recommend in my 56g tank. I don't want to strip out all of it.

Can you explain how to add it slowly? It came in a bag, and I dont have anything else to put it in. My phosphate is 1.0, atleast. Hanna not reading higher than that.

 

[kileki]

I went through this a few months ago. Phosphates hit 0.9, and nothing would bring it down. I finally added GFO in a bag, and it dropped to 0.5 in about two weeks. Now I use a reactor, and it sits steady at 0.2. No harm I noticed.

Add GFO slowly and monitor it. Some of my coral took a little while to open back up when it first dropped. I used half of what they recommend in my 56g tank. I don't want to strip out all of it.

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/p...6qvH6JRMUx-sO7NQ-4hyvLUQ6Zv7KkgxoCbuQQAvD_BwE

this is what i got

 

[Cheezle]

I use Rowaphos and have gone from 2.4 phos to .8 in 7 days and then from .8 to .4 in another 7 after adding a new bag. Couldn't tell you for sure but what you got is probably the same thing, I just put all mine into a little sock and added it. You probably won't slurp up all of your phosphates with that so I wouldn't even worry about taking it slow. Your phos is not as high as mine but my corals pretty much immediately started doing better and my ALK/MAG/CAL levels started balancing themselves out as well, though idk if that's coincidental or not

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/p...6qvH6JRMUx-sO7NQ-4hyvLUQ6Zv7KkgxoCbuQQAvD_BwE

this is what i got

 

[shutterspeed1000]

Can you explain how to add it slowly? It came in a bag, and I dont have anything else to put it in. My phosphate is 1.0, atleast. Hanna not reading higher than that.

Before you try this, are you sure the water is getting filtered enough with a HOB filter? This would not be a good fix for not enough filtration. Have you had a local store test also? You may have other water issues.

Honestly, this is one of the more difficult changes I made to the tank to get right and it was a last resort, after I made sure everything else was ok.

I followed this:

Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) Instructions

We make two types of GFO, standard and high-capacity. As the name implies, our high-capacity media can hold more phosphate. The material is denser and requires less media to get the job done. You will experience lower dust (cleaner) and less likelihood of the media compacting inside your reactor.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[kileki]

I use Rowaphos and have gone from 2.4 phos to .8 in 7 days and then from .8 to .4 in another 7 after adding a new bag. Couldn't tell you for sure but what you got is probably the same thing, I just put all mine into a little sock and added it. You probably won't slurp up all of your phosphates with that so I wouldn't even worry about taking it slow. Your phos is not as high as mine but my corals pretty much immediately started doing better and my ALK/MAG/CAL levels started balancing themselves out as well, though idk if that's coincidental or not

Thanks! Love the profile picture btw! I grew up playing baseball with Diamondbacks shortstop Blaze Alexander

 

[kileki]

Before you try this, are you sure the water is getting filtered enough with a HOB filter? This would not be a good fix for not enough filtration. Have you had a local store test also? You may have other water issues.

Honestly, this is one of the more difficult changes I made to the tank to get right and it was a last resort, after I made sure everything else was ok.

I followed this:

Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) Instructions

We make two types of GFO, standard and high-capacity. As the name implies, our high-capacity media can hold more phosphate. The material is denser and requires less media to get the job done. You will experience lower dust (cleaner) and less likelihood of the media compacting inside your reactor.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I have a PSK-100H protein skimmer arriving Thursday that I will be adding, my HOB is a Fluval AquaClear 70 in my 40gal tall tank with 2 clowns, 3 damsels, and 1 leather toadstool in it.