Phosphate Removal Materials

[theplantman]

I have been using phosban ito remove phosphates and recently went to get a new supply. They did not have it but had GFO, I was told by the LFS that they are not the same thing. I was not convinced because they look exactly alike so I did a little research.

Phosban= synthetic ferric oxide hydroxide

GFO= granular ferric oxide hydroxide

What is not the same?

and if they truly aren't then should I adjust the amount of GFO I use compared to the Phosban?

Any clarification before I change the media in my reactor would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dkelly]

I just installed a dual reactor for GFO+Carbon from Two Part. I believe that you can use Phosban interchangeably with GFO.

 

[theplantman]

Hello? Beuller?, nobody has some definitive info on this subject?

 

[jcusmarine]

Tagging along....just setup a reactor and I am running Phosban currently. Good question theplantman!

 

[theplantman]

So where are all the reef gods with the answers? Probably MACNA, I think that is this weekend.

 

[grouper therapy]

It depends on your po3 levels now. How much phosban are you running?

 

[theplantman]

grouper therapy;397328 wrote: It depends on your po3 levels now. How much phosban are you running?

my phosphates do not register on my salifert kit. I have a two little fishies reactor and per instructions run it with about 2"-3" depth of phosban in the reactor chamber which is about 50 grams. I also keep a purigen bag in the reactor with it.

 

[roundman]

I run 2 2 little fishes reactors. the first has about 2-3 inchs of gfo and the other has carbon. My phosphates are at 0.

Sorry I can't tell which is which I have only used the gfo.

 

[dakota9]

theplantman;397217 wrote: I have been using phosban ito remove phosphates and recently went to get a new supply. They did not have it but had GFO, I was told by the LFS that they are not the same thing. I was not convinced because they look exactly alike so I did a little research.

Phosban= synthetic ferric oxide hydroxide

GFO= granular ferric oxide hydroxide

What is not the same?

and if they truly aren't then should I adjust the amount of GFO I use compared to the Phosban?

Any clarification before I change the media in my reactor would be greatly appreciated.

I have not truly researched this, but since no one has really answered you question I thought I would add my take on it;

I've used Phosban, and it worked well for my needs. Stated above, it is synthetic </em>ferric oxide hydroxide. Being a synthetic, it was probably synthesized at a rate to lend a certain result, no more and no less, where as granular ferric oxide hydroxide would be more of a loose cannon, </em>and would need to be ramped up slowly to give you no less, but no more result than you needed.

Clear as mud? (I have a very rare "off day", just woke up and theres no coffee in the house, I'm not at te top of my game right now)

My suggestion would be that if you've always gotten good results with Phosban, then stick with what you know to work. It takes the guess work out of the equation, it's sold in many locations around town, inexpensive and easy to use.

 

[jaustin]

x2 on what Dakota said.

I use GFO because it's cheaper and you can get a bunch of it from BRS for a good price. Start with 1/4 the dose and ramp it up over several weeks. I'm working my way up to 1/3 cup on 60g of reef and changing it out every month.

Good luck with it and take it slow. The Salifert test kit can read 0 and you still have p04. You need to use a low range kit like Hach or Hanna.

 

[lilrobb]

Guys,

Phosban is a tradename where GFO is an abbreviation of the actual (but incorrect) chemical name.
Same as with flavors in our food, natural flavor, nature identic flavor and artificial flavor - it all tastes the same (to a certain degree) but is made in different ways.
Phosban is GFO, where they might have added some other stuff to it - but Ferric Oxide is Ferric Oxide (and again, to a certain degree only: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_oxides">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_oxides</a>)

Confusion complete? LOL

 

[theplantman]

Thank you,

This was the answer I was expecting to get, but since an LFS told me something different, I wanted confirmation on what I thought to be the case. The tank is looking too good now to make a silly mistake. Measure twice, cut once so to speak.

Thanks LilRobb.

LilRobb;397374 wrote: Guys,

Phosban is a tradename where GFO is an abbreviation of the actual (but incorrect) chemical name.
Same as with flavors in our food, natural flavor, nature identic flavor and artificial flavor - it all tastes the same (to a certain degree) but is made in different ways.
Phosban is GFO, where they might have added some other stuff to it - but Ferric Oxide is Ferric Oxide (and again, to a certain degree only: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_oxides">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_oxides</a>)

Confusion complete? LOL[/QUOTE]