How do you GFO?

[defasum]

I do weekly water changes to manage po4. I have always looked for a filter bag that can hold GFO without spilling out. The bags I use for carbon just don’t cut it for GFO. If you are using a media bag in a high flow area in the sump, what type of bag are you using?

 

[KrisReef]

I put it in an external canistar that it tumbles inside but doesn't exit out of.

 

[polyppal]

I have found it pretty useless outside of a reactor. I run mine (few tbs) in a BRS reactor with Rox carbon (1 cup) and has worked great for me

 

[X-37B]

I run it in a bag in a reactor.
I use used chemipure bags with a rubber band. They work well in a sump if you can get some decent flow through it.

 

[Pistondog]

In a reactor, sometimes with rox.

 

[jda]

Rarely, but when I use it, it is small amounts in a reactor slightly tumbling changed every day.

GFO will bind quickly and "fill up" fast so you want to use both small amounts and also get it out of there when it is done (change quickly).

GFO can both bind and unbind, so if you change water with old GFO on your tank, it will unbind and fill the water back up again. Remember that your aragonite is likely a reservoir of phosphates, so you have to keep lowering the water column level and allow the rock/sand to unbind. Don't strip the water down to nothing and then have it bounce back up again when the rock unbinds. Use small amounts and change often.

 

[JeffH]

I don't think you'll find success using media bags. Look for a reactor that suits your needs.

 

[BriansBrain]

I use the single brs canister plumbed into the return manifold using 1/8-1/4 of their recommended amount. Just enough flow to make it tumble slightly

 

[defasum]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I picked up a small reactor from the LFS

Fluidized GFO and Carbon Filter Media Reactor - XS

AquaMaxx Fluidized Media ReactorsAquaMaxx Fluidized Media Reactors are multi-purpose aquarium water filters specially designed for use in marine and reef aquaria. Insert your media of choice to help eliminate organic pollutants, odors, discolorations and algae fuels. Fluidized reactors, also...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

now I just need to find the time to plumb it.

 

[Shooter6]

I dont. Gfo is a bandaid for a badly running system.

 

[Gtinnel]

I dont. Gfo is a bandaid for a badly running system.

I've never understood why some people take this stance on GFO. It is just a form of nutrient export so why do some have such a negative view of it? Is it because it's not a natural process?
I don't personally see it as being any more of a band aid than running filter socks, protein skimmer, refugium, ATS, etc.

What form(s) of nutrient export do you use and what makes them any less of a band aid than GFO?

 

[Reef and Dive]

I use Phos004 in a reactor together with Zeo. I take advantage of zeolite filter for heavy metals and it fluidizes better.

 

[Spieg]

I've never understood why some people take this stance on GFO. It is just a form of nutrient export so why do some have such a negative view of it? Is it because it's not a natural process?
I don't personally see it as being any more of a band aid than running filter socks, protein skimmer, refugium, ATS, etc.

What form(s) of nutrient export do you use and what makes them any less of a band aid than GFO?

It's expensive and generally a PITA to use. There are better methods to deal with PO4. I haven't had problems with PO4 for quite a while (if anything I have to add it), but when I did, Lanthanum Chloride was so much easier (no reactor or pumps required).

 

[Jw258]

I run it passively in the bag included in the tub of rowaphos in a chamber of my HOB. I give it a massage every few days.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I dont. Gfo is a bandaid for a badly running system.

A glass box full of water is not the pacific ocean.

Whatever it takes to keep it stable ...

 

[brahm]

Dual chamber reactor change it out every few months.

 

[homer1475]

I mix 3 tablespoons in with my rox carbon in a reverse flow reactor(down through, as opposed to up through the media).

I can drop PO4 from .2 to .1 in a few days with that amount. I never run more, and only use it when my PO4 gets above .2. I try to maintain right around .1 to .2 phosphates.

GFO is no more of a bandaid then any type of filtration we use. How is GFO any different then carbon, or carbon dosing, or a refugium, or a skimmer, or any other type of filtration? They are all means of filtering the chemicals from the water.

 

[homer1475]

I think you'll find most experienced reefers do not like GFO simply because if used by the directions, you can strip your water of PO4 very rapidly., killing your corals.

If you understand how it works, and how effective it is, and how it can leech back, then GFO is no different then any other type of filtration.

 

[AdamD76]

I have found it pretty useless outside of a reactor. I run mine (few tbs) in a BRS reactor with Rox carbon (1 cup) and has worked great for me

Running it in a reactor is the way. Running it in a reactor mixed in with carbon is the best way to use it. Running it mixed with carbon allows you to not have to worry about getting just the right amount of flow so that it tumbles but doesn't tumble too much that it really breaks down.

 

[brahm]

I think you'll find most experienced reefers do not like GFO simply because if used by the directions, you can strip your water of PO4 very rapidly., killing your corals.

If you understand how it works, and how effective it is, and how it can leech back, then GFO is no different then any other type of filtration.

Eh, there is a lot of overblown forum gossip when it comes to GFO been using it for decades with 0 issues in sps dominate systems. I toss in a cup to two cups at a time in a dual chamber reactor. Pretty sure it doesn’t leach back either don’t know where that one started outside of anecdotal claims can’t find any actual proof of this.