GFO and any negative effect.

I used GFO and it did nothing. My algae was worse when I used it. Weird, I know. I took it out and am using phosban instead.

 

Kacy, Phosban is GFO. GFO stands for granular ferric oxide-based phosphate media. Phosban is one of those types. Is what you use white and spherical?




To the OP, good answers above. The "go slow" adage is important with anything. As Steve has mentioned in some of his threads--even removing pollutants should be done slowly lest the inhabitants be shocked. GFO is pretty effective, but you should have a handle on phosphate levels beforehand. GFO is better than the non-ferric oxide based media in that it can't release bound phosphates after adsorption.

 

^ Phosban is GFO....

*Edit* beaten to it....

 

Then you did not use enough or it wasn't tumbling properly. Phosban is a really good product but far more expensive that Bulk GFO.

About the only downside to using GFO or any other phosphate remover is that the corals that like a bit of dirty water like Xenia, Kenya trees and Zoo's and Paly's will not do quite as well while your using it.

And you have as someone else mentioned start off slow, Bulk reef supply has a pretty good instruction sheet on how to use it. If you drop the Phosphates to fast in a tank you might experience some issues, that is why you start off with a little less that what's recommended for your size tank.

 

Nope! That's not what I'm using then. LOL Woopsy

Forgot the name of what I'm using. It is for phosphates, but it isn't GFO. It is white pellet things...

 

I think that would be phosguard, an aluminum oxide instead of iron oxide.

 

Thank you, that's it

 

Many thanks to everyone. Great responses from all.

 

When used as recommended there really are no drawbacks. Where you run in to problems is using too much media too fast, they recommend like a half dose to start with so you don't shock your system. Other problems are using more than the recommended amount and higher than recommended flows which grind the media to dust. Like anything else, used in moderation and monitored on a regular basis its positives far outweigh the negatives.

 

I remember reading there were problems with the Aluminum based products and that we should stick to the iron based ones....

M