Should I ditch my gfo/carbon reactor?

Michael43 · Jul 15, 2016

I know this has been discussed but not exactly finding my answers in the search. I run about half what BRS recommends with very low flow but with my Hanna ulr I'm still not getting a reading more than .003 or so, 10% of where I'm assuming id like to be. I have a lot of high end sps and they seem like they are doing ok but could be better with growth and color. My lps are not looking there best by any means. I have always run it since I started the tank but now over the last 2 months the tank has gone sps dominant. I always have some nitrates 2-5 or so since I have a decent amount of fish and feed everyday. Should I just get rid of it all together and see what happens? What about the activated carbon?

Geeray · Jul 15, 2016

If it were me I would take it off line. A lot of people don't run carbon at all without any ill effects.

Salty1962 · Jul 16, 2016

Running carbon helps with clearing up your tank water and cleaning up contaminates. I run it all of the time to clear up my water and keep contaminates out of my system. Are you running both carbon and GFO? You can run both in the same reactor, just keep it tumbling. Don't tumble it too hard or the GFO will get crushed and flow into your system. I personally use the ROX 8 carbon. It's easier to clean and is harder so it lasts longer and it doesn't take as much due to density.

Michael43 · Jul 16, 2016

Yeah I have a reactor with 2 chambers. One I run the gfo and the other I run the ROX Carbon

Salty1962 · Jul 16, 2016

I would at least stick with the carbon and just run GFO if your numbers dictate it.

Geeray · Jul 16, 2016

You certainly can run carbon and many people do but doesn't it remove micro nutrients that we're trying so hard to add in the tank?

john.m.cole3 · Jul 16, 2016

I agree with running rox .8 carbon all of the time for water clarity and reduced fish smell. I mix my GFO with my carbon in a single chamber. I use only a tiny amount of GFO when my Hanna ULR reads .03. right now I use 3/4 cup carbon to 1/4 cup GFO and change it every 2 weeks.

RMS18 · Jul 16, 2016

Salty1962 said:
Running carbon helps with clearing up your tank water and cleaning up contaminates. I run it all of the time to clear up my water and keep contaminates out of my system. Are you running both carbon and GFO? You can run both in the same reactor, just keep it tumbling. Don't tumble it too hard or the GFO will get crushed and flow into your system. I personally use the ROX 8 carbon. It's easier to clean and is harder so it lasts longer and it doesn't take as much due to density.

It's the carbon you don't want to tumble. GFO is suppose to tumble as GFO will bind to its self.

Salty1962 · Jul 16, 2016

Bmwm235i said:
It's the carbon you don't want to tumble. GFO is suppose to tumble as GFO will bind to its self.

Yes, you want both to tumble to maximize the contact time with your media, you don't want your gfo to tumble so much to cause it to get into your tank. It's very soft and will breakup if tumbled too hard.

RMS18 · Jul 16, 2016

Salty1962 said:
Yes, you want both to tumble to maximize the contact time with your media, you don't want your gfo to tumble so much to cause it to get into your tank. It's very soft and will breakup if tumbled too hard.

You need to read up on carbon and gfo. [emoji23]

BoneXriffic · Jul 16, 2016

I donot run gfo or carbon with success. I have had to peroxcide dose latley and within 3 days that alone stripped me of p04 lol.

Graffiti Spot · Jul 17, 2016

Peroxide dosing stripped your tank of phosphates? That doesn't sound right.

All gfo should be tumbled. Always use good quality gfo and carbon. Carbon should not be tumbled aggressively because it will rub itself apart and the fines will irritate tangs and cause problems like head and lateral line erosion. Both should be used carefully in the beginning because they can strip your water quickly and cause problems with corals.
If you have been running half the recommended amount and are having no problems while still getting a phosphate reading why would you change what is working? Especially since it's worked from the start until you see a specific reason to stop I wouldn't worry about it. Find out what is making your lps look bad first. A little more info on that and someone may be able to help.

BoneXriffic · Jul 17, 2016

Pedoconfuego said:
Peroxide dosing stripped your tank of phosphates? That doesn't sound right.

All gfo should be tumbled. Always use good quality gfo and carbon. Carbon should not be tumbled aggressively because it will rub itself apart and the fines will irritate tangs and cause problems like head and lateral line erosion. Both should be used carefully in the beginning because they can strip your water quickly and cause problems with corals.
If you have been running half the recommended amount and are having no problems while still getting a phosphate reading why would you change what is working? Especially since it's worked from the start until you see a specific reason to stop I wouldn't worry about it. Find out what is making your lps look bad first. A little more info on that and someone may be able to help.

2weeks prior to dosing y p04 read .15 area... 10 days into dosing, my p04 is 0.00 via hanna. It was the only change to the tank

Graffiti Spot · Jul 17, 2016

I am not seeing how peroxide dosing would reduce phosphates are you? I would think something else happened, are you sure your test was correct?

BoneXriffic · Jul 17, 2016

Pedoconfuego said:
I am not seeing how peroxide dosing would reduce phosphates are you? I would think something else happened, are you sure your test was correct?

Yes, i can see the effects of it as well, all lps arent opening. Ive started overfeeding and am skipping a wc

twilliard · Jul 17, 2016

Something needs to be cleared up I see!
First off H2o2 dosing while using GFO will strip your po4. This was learned during my study of h2o2 and cyanobacteria.
So yes if you were running GFO and h2o2 then yes po4 will be limited.

Now for the lack of growth and color.
No3 and po4 is needed by the zooanthelle for Photosynthesis. It is an energy source for them. ULNS are ran in a different manner and is not for everyone.

Graffiti Spot · Jul 17, 2016

Do you have a link I can read so I don't get this thread off track? I would like to learn how peroxide and gfo strip phosphates. I was under the impression peroxide only is effective in the water for a very short time and has nothing to do with phosphates. I think I was even running gfo when I dosed it.

Graffiti Spot · Jul 17, 2016

BoneXriffic said:
Yes, i can see the effects of it as well, all lps arent opening. Ive started overfeeding and am skipping a wc

I think I remember peroxide dosing affecting lps like this too especially when dosing a lot for extended time periods. I didn't notice po4 reduction from what I remember though.