PO4 higher with GFO

[liverock27]

I started running GFO last week on my tank and my PO4 has actually gone up.

I tested the water coming out of the reactor on Monday and it was at .05, so I replaced the GFO.

Today I tested the water coming out of the reactor and it is at .08.

The PO4 in my tank was at .03 two weeks ago before I started using GFO and now it is at .05. I am using 1 cup of BRS GFO on my 90g tank running through a TLF150 reactor.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[snowmansnow]

I wonder if it is leeching back into your system... I doubt it since its only been running a week.

a better explanation would be a faulty test or 2.

What test kit are you using for PO4?
B

 

[liverock27]

I thought about that so I tested it multiple times using a Hanna Checker, but got the same readings.

I do have some Hair Algea appearing as well, but it is not a dark green like what I have seen. It is clear with a green tint.

 

[ripped tide]

Do you carbon dose? What is your feeding schedule like? What types of foods? How fast is the gfo moving?

It may be worth changing it out and seeing if it drops back down.

I was under the impression that gfo lasted a lot longer than it actually does. To maintain low levels, I find myself changing it weekly-bi weekly.

FWIW, my level of stress went down after the newness of my photometer went away. I was able to get .01ppm results, but my corals started looking like crap. Turns out, I was over stripping the water, and pulling out some of their essential food sources. Po4 is an essential building block of life. Corals do need some. Once you get around .05-.03, I would just try to maintain it close to that.

 

[liverock27]

I am doing red seas NOPO-X, but when I run out I am planning on switching to vodka dosing.

I feed PE Mysis Shrimp which I thaw and then rinse with RO water. I feed a cube a day and will mix Silcate with one of the feedings.

The GFO is tumbling in the reactor.

 

[ripped tide]

Is just the surface tumbling? Or is all of it?

 

[wbrown]

I have the same reactor with MJ1200 on it at full bore, running 2 cups GFO. I see some movement in the media, but my PO4 is .03 pretty constant.
I get about 3 weeks per change.
Just comparative info if it helps.

 

[liverock27]

Ripped Tide;730726 wrote: Is just the surface tumbling? Or is all of it?

All of it.

Edit:

wbrown;730730 wrote: I have the same reactor with MJ1200 on it at full bore, running 2 cups GFO. I see some movement in the media, but my PO4 is .03 pretty constant.
I get about 3 weeks per change.
Just comparative info if it helps.

I am only running a MJ900, but I have it fully opened as well.

 

[ripped tide]

If gfo tumbles to aggressively, it grinds against itself and releases fines. I would try slowing it down a bit.

 

[liverock27]

Ripped Tide;730733 wrote: If gfo tumbles to aggressively, it grinds against itself and releases fines. I would try slowing it down a bit.

Thanks. I will switch out the media in the morning and try a slower flow.

 

[ripped tide]

Good luck! Just remember, it's ok to have a little

 

[liverock27]

Ripped Tide;730737 wrote: Good luck! Just remember, it's ok to have a little

Thanks. All of my SPS are looking good and mainly I just want to get rid of the HA.

 

[ripped tide]

HA is a pain. I fought it like crazy in my old tank.

 

[liverock27]

Ripped Tide;730741 wrote: HA is a pain. I fought it like crazy in my old tank.

Any other suggestions to help get rid of it?

 

[ripped tide]

Depends on if it is bryopsis or hair algae. If it is bryopsis, tech m, if regular hair algae, tangs and Mexican turbo snails.

 

[liverock27]

Ripped Tide;730751 wrote: Depends on if it is bryopsis or hair algae. If it is bryopsis, tech m, if regular hair algae, tangs and Mexican turbo snails.

It is definitely HA. I will grab some turbos because I don't really want to add another fish. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[ripped tide]

My tank is currently free of HA. This is my cuc:


~36 astreas and trochus
~12 Mexican turbos
~12 scarlet hermits
~160 dwarf cerith snails
1 tuxedo urchin

They do a really good job, especially the urchin. The only issue with the urchin is that they pick corals up from time to time and "wear" them. They do this to blend in and avoid predators.

 

[ripped tide]

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[sewer urchin]

I hear that urchins can be rough on a frag rack.

 

[cr500_af]

Paging Mysterybox... if it has to do with GFO, he knows it.