Phosphate

how much should my GFO be "tumbling"? also, how long until I should start seeing results?

I have the BRS dual reactor and the carbon in the second canister is slightly tumbling but the GFO in the first isn't at all- is this an issue?

 

I just bought a Salifert Phosphate kit from sponsor SaltSupply and tested my tank last night - O phosphates. I was surprised as I have a couple rocks with red slime. Anyway, it is a good kit, simple to use FYI.

 

You'll want a nice slow tumble on the GFO. So if your is not moving you'll want to adjust it.

 

as little as possible while still getting some movement. The only goal is to keep it from clumping, but the slower, the better.

You need to sandwhich your carbon with 2 sponges into the top of the carbon chamber so there is NO movement. It should never be allowed to tumble, the fines are very bad for the tank. (looks like it causes HLLE)

The gfo goes in with no sponges in the first chamber and the carbon sandwiched in the 2nd. Over time the carbon will clog so you need to check your gfo every couple of days to increase the pump a little to compensate.

 

Matt, this would be right though even though you most likely still have phosphates in your tank. The red slime is just using it up before you can actually test for it right?

 

Yeah this crossed my mind after the test. Could be. Or the fuge I set up last month is picking it up.

 

Thanks. its really strange, the GFO isn't moving much but the carbon does when i turn everything up

 

When I run mine in a dual reactor I have the carbon (i ran carbon all of once) smushed tight between 2 sponges, and I give the GFO a little bit more room. You want to run GFO in the first compartment, and as Grmim said, with as little movement as possible.

You should see pretty obvious results rather soon with a small system like your 55 but it will soon become saturated and need to be replaced.

 

soon as 2 weeks?

 

Should see the levels decreasing that soon. One issue is the rock and sand will continue to leach the nutrients into the water column but even then you will just need to change it out a little more often when your po4 starts to creep up.