GFO question

[stoney1118]

i read about this stuff and it seems pretty effective. supposed to cut down on algea growth alot! any one use it? is it just an alternative to carbon or phosban?

 

[jt955]

it is generic phosban

 

[stoney1118]

thanks, thought so

 

[grouper therapy]

Granular ferric oxide. Does not replace carbon but is used in conjunction with carbon usually.used for phosphate removal in the hobby and for arsenic removal in drinking water.

 

[stoney1118]

grouper therapy;564811 wrote: Granular ferric oxide. Does not replace carbon but is used in conjunction with carbon usually.used for phosphate removal in the hobby and for arsenic removal in drinking water.

thanks man! i am gonna give it a try

 

[gnashty]

be careful with it - use only half suggested amount and step up over a couple weeks

 

[stoney1118]

ok thanks

 

[weaglereefer]

So are you using it in a reactor or a bag?

 

[stoney1118]

reactor, why?

 

[weaglereefer]

Just wondering. Reactor is the only way to go.

 

[schwaggs]

Start slow with 1/4 to 1/2 the reccomended amount of GFO. I run about 1 to 1.5 cups in my reactor on my 500 gallon system and replace it once a month. Don't forget to rinse the stuff, it has lots of very fine dust in it. Basically put the GFO in the reactor, start it up and capture the first several quarts of water that cycles through the reactor and discard. You will understand why when you see it!

 

[stoney1118]

Schwaggs;564907 wrote: Start slow with 1/4 to 1/2 the reccomended amount of GFO. I run about 1 to 1.5 cups in my reactor on my 500 gallon system and replace it once a month. Don't forget to rinse the stuff, it has lots of very fine dust in it. Basically put the GFO in the reactor, start it up and capture the first several quarts of water that cycles through the reactor and discard. You will understand why when you see it!

excellent info, thanks alot!

 

[weaglereefer]

Schwaggs;564907 wrote: Start slow with 1/4 to 1/2 the reccomended amount of GFO. I run about 1 to 1.5 cups in my reactor on my 500 gallon system and replace it once a month. Don't forget to rinse the stuff, it has lots of very fine dust in it. Basically put the GFO in the reactor, start it up and capture the first several quarts of water that cycles through the reactor and discard. You will understand why when you see it!

Yup, good way to do a water change of a few gallons.

 

[bruce 1]

gnashty;564824 wrote: be careful with it - use only half suggested amount and step up over a couple weeks

Why only use 1/2? Thank you Bruce

 

[grouper therapy]

bruce 1;565004 wrote: Why only use 1/2? Thank you Bruce

There is anecdotal evidence that if phosphates are reduced too quickly in a system, corals will become shocked and start to RTN . I have never experienced that and I start out with double the amount. But better safe than sorry

 

[bruce 1]

grouper therapy;565007 wrote: There is anecdotal evidence that if phosphates are reduced too quickly in a system, corals will become shocked and start to RTN . I have never experienced that and I start out with double the amount. But better safe than sorry

My phosphates went from 40ppm to .09 in 3 days. Looks good so far.


Thanks

 

[ralph atl]

bruce 1;565221 wrote: My phosphates went from 40ppm to .09 in 3 days. Looks good so far.


Thanks

we are talking Small Polyp Stonies here............also, it's never a good idea to have such a large change in a short period of time for any of your tank inhabitants .............

 

[weaglereefer]

grouper therapy;565007 wrote: There is anecdotal evidence that if phosphates are reduced too quickly in a system, corals will become shocked and start to RTN .

According to Dogbert, this is the best kind of evidence! :lol2: (Dilbert, "The Fact")

 

[skriz]

grouper therapy;565007 wrote: There is anecdotal evidence that if phosphates are reduced too quickly in a system, corals will become shocked and start to RTN . I have never experienced that and I start out with double the amount. But better safe than sorry

It may not be the drop in phosphates; it could be GFO particles entering the water column and "bothering" the sps and killing them.

Like grouper said, though, this is entirely anecdotal, but enough of us has experienced the exact same thing to warrant caution. It won't hurt to start off slowly. I could</em> hurt not to.

 

[huttongd]

I have to agree, better safe than sorry. Better to make small slow changes.