GFO....

[BlackiceClowns]

Hello everyone
My phosphates are at an all-time high and have spiked to 2.6. I have built a DIY media reactor and the silicone will cure in two days. I am planning on running GFO. My main query is if I use it to get the Phosphates to the right level do I stop using GFO or do I need to switch it out monthly? I also wanted to run Carbon in my aquarium. Can I mix the two or do I need a second media reactor for that?

Thanks

 

[ninjamyst]

I was able to drop my phosphate from 1.2 to .9 then to .8 then to .6 and now it's .46. I could have went faster but it's best not to drop it too fast. This was over 10 days using phosphate-e. You have to do research and dose accordingly and go very very slow. Once I get it down to .3, I plan to use phosguard to keep it in check.

If you are certain on GFO, my research says they should run in its own reactor and not be mixed with carbon because the exhaust rate and flow rate is different than carbon and other media.

 

[BlackiceClowns]

Phosphate E is very hard to find in Australia and I'm planning on keeping GFO. So go slow with the GFO. I might just end up keeping the Carbon in a media bag with some high flow.
Thanks

 

[K9Fish]

They work very well mixed together. Watch BRS video on the subject.

 

[BlackiceClowns]

They work very well mixed together. Watch BRS video on the subject.

Do you mind linking the video

 

[Acros]

Carbon when tumbled could create dust that is linked with HLLE in tangs. GFO is more efficient when tumbled. So I would not mix the two.

I run GFO as needed in a reactor. Usually starts running it when phosphates hit 0.1 and stops when it get below 0.08. In my tank, it usually stay low unless I feed a lot.

 

[BlackiceClowns]

Carbon when tumbled could create dust that is linked with HLLE in tangs. GFO is more efficient when tumbled. So I would not mix the two.

I run GFO as needed in a reactor. Usually starts running it when phosphates hit 0.1 and stops when it get below 0.08. In my tank, it usually stay low unless I feed a lot.

Thanks for the response, So I only need to use GFO when my phosphates are too high, and when they drop low enough i can replace them with carbon.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Forget the GFO and look into carbon dosing instead. Dose carbon source - bacteria multiply - bacteria consume excess nutrients - bacteria are skimmed out of the water column. Most reefers think it ends here but many fail to realize the fact that a lot of the bacteria along with the nutrients which aren’t skimmed out are utilized by corals as a food source. So carbon dose, export nutrients and feed your corals at the same time.

 

[Trimixdivin]

what is the best way to carbon dose? Dealing with high phospates myself

 

[bushdoc]

what is the best way to carbon dose? Dealing with high phospates myself

Carbon dosing is primarily to lower Nitrates, not phosphates. It does some phosphate lowering properties, but GFO, refugium/ algae reactor or Lantanum chloride is much better option to lower phosphates.

 

[Trimixdivin]

any suggestion beside Cheato in the refugium?

 

[bushdoc]

Caulerpa, but some species are very invasive and some states do not allow it.

 

[ninjamyst]

Carbon dosing is primarily to lower Nitrates, not phosphates. It does some phosphate lowering properties, but GFO, refugium/ algae reactor or Lantanum chloride is much better option to lower phosphates.

I thought elimi-np is carbon dosing for phosphate reductio ...

 

[Pistondog]

Carbon when tumbled could create dust that is linked with HLLE in tangs. GFO is more efficient when tumbled. So I would not mix the two.

I run GFO as needed in a reactor. Usually starts running it when phosphates hit 0.1 and stops when it get below 0.08. In my tank, it usually stay low unless I feed a lot.

The tumbling of gfo is to prevent clumping, which makes it more efficient as you said.
When gfo is mixed with gac, no tumbling is required since clumping does not occur as the gfo is isolated by the gac particles, assuming proper mixing.
Thats the argument anyway.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Carbon dosing is primarily to lower Nitrates, not phosphates. It does some phosphate lowering properties, but GFO, refugium/ algae reactor or Lantanum chloride is much better option to lower phosphates.

I have to disagree. The increased population of bacteria produced from carbon dosing will process both nitrates and phosphates while at the same time feed corals. Check out the following thread for more information

Bacterial Driven System: A Recipe for Success.

EDIT 10/20/2023 Well, the system has preformed beyond expectations and grown corals quicker than what I would have imagined. You can read about the "Bacteria-Powered Reef" in the latest issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine. Original article...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I use biophos 80 & would thoroughly recommend but if you're feeding your corals with reef roids etc you can bump phosphate up to an alarming level & drop them just as quickly using GFO.levels seesaw & stability is hard to achieve.i carbon dose now & run my skimmer on the wet side & even with twice weekly roids it keeps phos much more stable than GFO alone

 

[Saltyanimals]

I have to disagree. The increased population of bacteria produced from carbon dosing will process both nitrates and phosphates while at the same time feed corals. Check out the following thread for more information

Bacterial Driven System: A Recipe for Success.

EDIT 10/20/2023 Well, the system has preformed beyond expectations and grown corals quicker than what I would have imagined. You can read about the "Bacteria-Powered Reef" in the latest issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine. Original article...

www.reef2reef.com

I’m with @bushdoc on this healthy debate.

I carbon dose via biopellets. Huge fan of biodiversity and have done all the variety of bottle bacs even using vinegar to feed the population. IMHO the variety will eventually level out as certain strains will outcompete into its natural balance. Without knowing which specific bacterial you’re adding and how that will balance is like throwing it to the wolves. It may simply be outcompeted and end there. Sure carbon dose to feed it. But you’re also feeding the more dominant wolves too.

All this was fine and Im still doing BP today. It’s actually the only thing that keeps my heavily stocked 180G NO3 levels in check. I can tell when my BPs are low as the NO3 creeps to the high teens. Reload and that’ll be back little under 10 PPM. All this while the PO4 doesn’t move without help. Ie GFO or similar. I kept a detailed log while I was experimenting with BP and there’s a thread on it with others echoing similar experiences. However “all tanks are different” can apply here.

Not saying the bacteria didn’t have some benefits on PO4. Just not material in any way as I observed however my PO4 targets are aimed to keeping SPS. GFO is tricky and can zero out PHO3 causing more issues especially in a reactor. A passive monthly gfo bag along with large chaeto works for me.

 

[Peair]

Thanks for the response, So I only need to use GFO when my phosphates are too high, and when they drop low enough i can replace them with carbon.

If you are going to run carbon together with GFO be careful not to use too much, it's ok to run a little carbon, but not for long because if will create a black film from the Reactor that sticks to everything, I would not do at the same time because it does mix in the tank and could create something if using allot, wait a few days, I use a little Rowa in my reactor and it does lower my phosphates.

 

[Peair]

If you are going to run carbon together with GFO be careful not to use too much, it's ok to run a little carbon, but not for long because if will create a black film from the Reactor that sticks to everything, I would not do at the same time because it does mix in the tank and could create something if using allot, wait a few days, I use a little Rowa in my reactor and it does lower my phosphates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you are going to run carbon together with GFO be careful not to use too much, it's ok to run a little carbon, but not for long because if will create a black film from the Reactor that sticks to everything, I would not do at the same time because it does mix in the tank and could create something if using allot, wait a few days, I use a little Rowa in my reactor and it does lower my phosphates.

Not sure why you get a black film, but if you are tumbling the GAC, you may be beating it into bits.

I can rox 0.8 and GFO together without tumbling and never saw any black film.