Seachem vs BRS

[FiveAlarmFrags]

Hey everyone,

I have a 60 gallon mixed reef tank. I have been using Seachem Matrix carbon in a mesh bag in the sump, as well as Seachem Phosguard in a mesh bag in the sump. I do a 10 gallon a week water change. Everything looks good but I do have a little algae. I feed Rotifers twice a week, Phycopure Reef Blend by Alagen twice a week, and pe mysid/cyclopeeze mix everyday for the fish.
Here are my parameters:
Mag 1420
Cal 480
Alk 10-11 dkh
Nitrates 0 ppm
PO4 .04-.08ppm
Salinity 35ppm

I change out the carbon and phosguard once a month but the PO4 level stays the same. I have been thinking about switching to the BRS GFO and ROX carbon and running through their dual reactor to see if I can drop the levels. First, do I even need to switch? From what I have gathered, my levels are not bad. Everything looks good but of course I do have some zoas that don't open from time to time. What do you guys think? If anybody has experience with both sides, please let me know. Thanks.

Rob

 

[Damon]

The Rox and brs carbons in my experience are much stronger than seachem. I lightly use their lignite, and don't even do that continously.

Phosguard I actually do like to pull levels quickly, but I stopped using it a while ago for the brs gfo. I think each has its advantages. I don't have the gfo touch and am just getting used to it(for the life of me I don't know why) I think the phosguard is easier personally, but in the longrun getting used to gfo (even the little I have) has yielded better results overall for the long haul.

Sent from Note 2

 

[FiveAlarmFrags]

How are you running the gfo? Reactor? Bag in sump?

 

[Damon]

Reactor. But then I ran the phosguard in a reactor also very slow.

Sent from Note 2

 

[FiveAlarmFrags]

Ok thanks. I need to reorder. Want to make sure I get right stuff for long haul. I like the seachem reef salt but the phosguard just doesnt seem to take me to zero PO4 Not sure why.

 

[Damon]

It never did with me either. That's one of the reasons I originally began messing with gfo..

Sent from Note 2

 

[AquamanE]

BRS for years. howeer getting to zero is hard unless yoyu have a low bio load.

btw- nothing wrong with pho4 of less than 0.06

 

[nature786]

Few months back I had a 75 gallon mixed reef with about 8-12 different fish. I had PO4 of about 0.9. My experience: I filled a TLS phosban 150 to the top with BRS GFO and 5 days later I was at 0.00 PO4. Before this I using Seachem; I like all their products but not the Carbon or phosphate remover.
I would recommend Xport po4 from Brightwell Aquatics over both of the above mentioned products. You get more/better media for an affordable price.

 

[mcarroll]

I have no issues with BRS or Seachem, but I think you are just not using Phosgaurd according to the directions...

Excepted from the directions on the product's website:
"Leave product in place for 4 days, then test phosphate or silicate concentrations[...]. If the concentration of the component you are trying to decrease has not dropped to around 0.02 mg/L, then replace the PhosGuard™, otherwise leave in place until levels begin to climb again. As long as concentrations remain under control, the product is not exhausted. Each 500 mL of PhosGuard™ treats over 600 L (150 gallons*) (i.e. will remove up to 30 mg/L phosphate in 600 L (150 gallons*) of water, depending on the initial phosphate/silicate concentrations and the current biological load. Over treating is not recommended."

(I edited that very slightly for brevity.)

Make sure you get the dosage right according to their formula too.

Remember: Phosgaurd is not GFO, doesn't really work like GFO and is not applied like GFO. It's more like carbon IMO....it works fast, so it's best applied in relatively small quantities and changed frequently. (Which is how I'd do your carbon from now on as well. Strangely their carbon usage guidelines are hidden in the interview in this PDF.)

Hope this helps!

-Matt