How fast will chemi pure elite drop phos?

[moretor1]

I finally bit the bullet and got some gfo today at the lfs.

The only option was chemi pure elite or an $80 huge bottle of large granule gfo which I don't want to buy

I've been struggling with bringing my phos down in my tank and am starting to notice skeletal degradation on some of my corals

The pack I got is meant for a 25gal tank. I have it sitting in the filter area of my 16gal biocube

My phos levels were near 2.0ppm last I tested and my nitrates were also unusually high (25ppm). The phos used to be off the charts on my api kit and I had it down to about 1.5ppm

I've done some small water changes but honestly I'm 98% sure the phosphate is why I haven't seen much skeletal growth. They might grow in flesh but they will still have skeletal issues

 

[moretor1]

I'm changing how I feed as well now. I used to just drop mysis pellets over my corals hoping some would land but now I'm just pinching it out directly in front of them

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I expect the GFO in it will be rapidly depleted at that phosphate level.

 

[moretor1]

I expect the GFO in it will be rapidly depleted at that phosphate level.

How much of a dent should I expect it to make? If I could get it near or sub 1ppm I would consider it a success for $15

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much of a dent should I expect it to make? If I could get it near or sub 1ppm I would consider it a success for $15

Small, IMO. I doubt it will be below 1 ppm 48 h after adding it.

 

[moretor1]

Small, IMO. I doubt it will be below 1 ppm 48 h after adding it.

Could you give me an idea of how much gfo would lower phosphate?

something like 1g gfo in 1L of 1ppm phosphate water hypothetically speaking

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could you give me an idea of how much gfo would lower phosphate?

something like 1g gfo in 1L of 1ppm phosphate water hypothetically speaking

No. The problem is that even a 100% water change will only reduce phosphate somewhat because a large amount may desorb from rock and sand, but the amount of such bound phosphate varies a lot depending on the surface area of calcium carbonate.

All you can do is try it and see, but products such as the Chemipure elite don’t contain large amounts of GFO.

 

[moretor1]

Ok well I'm fairly certain the 2.0 phos was either the apex of a spike or a misread

Retested today cause my duncans have been looking sad the last 2 days and now I'm at

No3:~10ppm
Po4:~.25-.5ppm

I really need a new test kit. Are the salifert phos kits titration as well? I hate reading colors

Gonna take the gfo out and see how my tank does

 

[Devisissy]

No and no. Chemipure is an excellent marketing.

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok well I'm fairly certain the 2.0 phos was either the apex of a spike or a misread

Retested today cause my duncans have been looking sad the last 2 days and now I'm at

No3:~10ppm
Po4:~.25-.5ppm

I really need a new test kit. Are the salifert phos kits titration as well? I hate reading colors

Gonna take the gfo out and see how my tank does

If you hate reading colors then buy this test kit. I use it, it’s easy, and the results are numeric and digital.

HI713 Phosphate Low Range Checker HC (Saltwater) - Hanna Instruments

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Initial investment is more than a typical kit, but it’s very easy to use and there is no interpretation of the results needed

Once you own it, refill packs for 25 tests are only 15$

HI713-25 Phosphate Low Range Checker Reagent (25 Tests) - Hanna Instruments

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If you are using API test kit then you should not do anything except get a better test kit. You need a test kit that can read in between zero and .25. Hanna tester is the best.

 

[moretor1]

No and no. Chemipure is an excellent marketing.

it brought me down at least .5ppm po4 which subsequently lowered No3 by about 15-20

I am not worried about reading low phos atm.

Actually this is the lowest my Po4 has ever been. 4 months ago it was 4ppm. The real question is how hard it's going to bounce back know that i removed it

 

[paragrouper]

If you are using API test kit then you should not do anything except get a better test kit. You need a test kit that can read in between zero and .25. Hanna tester is the best.

This is what I use as well. It’s very important to confirm the phosphate level, as there is a huge difference between 2 and .25.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

why not just get the standard brs GFO and run it in a reactor with carbon as well? I found that starting really low got me down to .18 from .50+ and as it slowly rose again, I added a little more and saw .14-.17. Quite frankly that’s as low as I am comfortable with. My NO3 is in the 30 range and my corals so far are happy and i’m not dealing with any algae that is a nuisance.

Corals love nutrients and I know every tank is different in its response to them, but your nitrates are probably fine those levels.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I would also add that abruptly removing a system that controls nutrients could be problematic. The idea is slow and steady and consistent. Stability. Why remove gfo?

 

[moretor1]

I would also add that abruptly removing a system that controls nutrients could be problematic. The idea is slow and steady and consistent. Stability. Why remove gfo?

Phosphate was already on its way down, gfo was added because I've noticed skeletal degradation and I wanted to get it at least sub 1ppm

As far as reactors go I have no room, the tank is a 16gal biocube and even the skimmer sold specifically for it barely fits

I removed the gfo because at the pace it was going it would bottom out my nutrients and probably kill everything. The gfo alone ticked off some corals bringing the phos down that fast

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Phosphate was already on its way down, gfo was added because I've noticed skeletal degradation and I wanted to get it at least sub 1ppm

As far as reactors go I have no room, the tank is a 16gal biocube and even the skimmer sold specifically for it barely fits

I removed the gfo because at the pace it was going it would bottom out my nutrients and probably kill everything. The gfo alone ticked off some corals bringing the phos down that fast

IMO, GFO does not bring down phosphate fast or slow. The rate depends entirely on how much you use, how well it is exposed to the water, and how often you replace it. One can use as little as you want.