gfo question

[atmercure]

so ive been researching how often to change gfo. i use a hannah low range phosphate checker, and today it was .07. not so good. i changed the gfo out with the 4 cups i usually run. total system is around 250gall. read somewhere that its time to change when your readings start to climb out of the reactor. after a few hours, i checked the phosphates straight out of the gfo reactor and it was .13. any ideas?

 

[heathlindner25]

I don't trust hannah low range checkers. confirm it with another test kit.

 

[skriz]

The "checkers" are crap. Check with the real deal and you'll get an accurate reading.

The type/brand of gfo you use has a big affect on the frequency you need to change the media and the efficiency of it.

 

[atmercure]

Skriz;835601 wrote: The "checkers" are crap. Check with the real deal and you'll get an accurate reading.



The type/brand of gfo you use has a big affect on the frequency you need to change the media and the efficiency of it.

im using the gfo from BRS

i thought these gave accurate readings
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[heathlindner25]

I have no experience with that one, I was talking about the yellow egg.

 

[skriz]

atmercure;835603 wrote: im using the gfo from BRS

i thought these gave accurate readings

Ahh. That's not the "checker" that's the real deal. As long as your reagents are current, it's accurate.

Brs gfo will need to be changed more often as it is not as effective as say rowaphos. I would use more too.

I forget a lot about these medias, but you have ferric oxides, ferric hydroxides, etc. The latter being better than the former. There's a good bit of info on it, but it's not nicely compiled snd the different medias aren't measured in the same way (volume vs. weight)..

 

[outdrsyguy1]

I was going to buy the Hanna but then I saw the accuracy they stated as +-.04 which renders it useless if you're trying to keep it below that range. I have the red sea pro but the color reads .06 whether I test my tank water or my zero tds rodi straight out of the unit.

 

[atmercure]

Skriz;835608 wrote: Ahh. That's not the "checker" that's the real deal. As long as your reagents are current, it's accurate.

Brs gfo will need to be changed more often as it is not as effective as say rowaphos. I would use more too.

I forget a lot about these medias, but you have ferric oxides, ferric hydroxides, etc. The latter being better than the former. There's a good bit of info on it, but it's not nicely compiled snd the different medias aren't measured in the same way (volume vs. weight)..

yep. just got the reagents in the mail today.

i have the SSR-200 reactor with 4 cups in it. how much do you suggest?

any idea why it would be reading .13 coming out of the reactor when the tank is .07. just trying to figure out why it would read higher and when to change it.

 

[ralph atl]

I use the HC GFO (DD ROWA is another great brand) use less, and change weekly. If your rock is a bit saturated, change as needed. I use 1 cup of HC GFO and 1 cup Rox carbon at 1/4 cup per 25 gallons. After two weeks the media is generally rendered useless from bacteria coaching it anyway.

 

[atmercure]

mysterybox;835630 wrote: I use the HC GFO (DD ROWA is another great brand) use less, and change weekly. If your rock is a bit saturated, change as needed. I use 1 cup of HC GFO and 1 cup Rox carbon at 1/4 cup per 25 gallons. After two weeks the media is generally rendered useless from bacteria coaching it anyway.

time to order some GFO anyway. Think ill try the HC this time. Gotta get these phosphates down and keep a good schedule