Addition of GFO

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by PghSteeler, Jan 8, 2013.

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  1. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    So after 10 months of my reef tank without a skimmer, sump, fuge, or reactor of any kind and only running with WC and a HOB filter with carbon and phosguard I decided to try some GFO. My tank develops the film algae on the walls within 4 days of cleaning and within 6-7 days it looks pretty bad. My nitrates test 0 but I have never tested phosphates but can only assume that they are the main cause of the algae since I never had any issues until I started feeding RODs and mysis shrimp more often.

    I placed the BRS GFO and carbon in my HOB skimmer so hopefully I see some results in a few weeks. I understand GFO seems to take awhile to work when first introduced and you dont want to make any sudden changes.

    I rinsed it for what seemed like forever and got to a point where I could run water straight through it clear but if I turned it off shuffled the bag and restarted it would get a little cloudy again. I placed some fine cotton pad in front of the pouch to help catch any extra GFO dust. Is it normal to be that dirty and did I rinse it well enough? Would it hrut anything if it got into the water column?
     
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  3. SeminoleB

    SeminoleB Coral Banded Shrimp

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    I'm interested in this as well. I have been battling some hair algae and all my params test fine, the bulbs are new, I only run an 8 hr light cycle (I only have lr, some yumas and zoas and a couple fish) and use ro/di water from my LFS. I will be following.
     
  4. skurious

    skurious Sailfin Tang

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    A small amount of dust shouldnt be too much of an issue as long as it doesnt cake up on any corals.

    SeminoleB, you could go to the LFS and look for a product called Chemipure Elite and give that a go. Its a mixture of carbon and GFO in a bag that you just put in a filter or medium flow area and let it do its thing. Its not cost effective in comparison to buying GFO and Carbon in bulk but it will be good to give a test run on your tank.
     
  5. maxcanada

    maxcanada Astrea Snail

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    Dont you need to run GFO through a reactor otherwise your wasting your money?
     
  6. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I did message BRS and that is the recommendation as it would be more effective and reduce the possibility of it caking up. It should still work in a filter sock or HOB filter though
     
  7. skurious

    skurious Sailfin Tang

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    It is the most efficient way, but this will be okay for the time being.
     
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  9. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    Problem with that is the carbon and GFO deplete at different rates so you end up wasting a lot of cash because you have to change the carbon when the GFO is still good
     
  10. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I do not have any hair algae really, very small amount of turf algae on some spots but mostly just glass film algae grows. I have fairly new bulbs and run an 11 hour light cycle which is kind of long and prob contributes to my film algae issues.
     
  11. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

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    It's possible the dust could cause algae, if there is an iron limitation, as it may be a source of iron. However, if you lower the P enough, so, that there is a P limitation, it shouldn't matter. More a theoretical concern, but possible, better to rinse well though.
     
  12. skurious

    skurious Sailfin Tang

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    yeah, Thats why I mentioned its not any better than buying bulk carbon and GFO. Its only to see if this helps him out, Ive had very good results with it and am currently using it in a reactor. one small pouch of elite and a big pouch of regular chemipure.