Phosphates And GFO Help

60G Tank
Emperor 400 Power Filter
Aquac Remora Pro Skimmer
Around 1,500 gph of Power Heads

Yesterday I got my water tested, everything was good except the Phosphates.
They were .82

So today I did about a 25% water change, and bought some GFO.

I was planning on placing the GFO in a nylon sock thing, and putting it in the back of the Emperor 400.
There's the Bio-Wheels, Empty grey cage/box for "Media", and the Carbon.

I was going to place it where the empty grey media cage is. Would that me enough flow you think? I'm not sure where else I could put it.

Also
- I assume that putting the GFO in your tank is fish-safe? I have 3 fish and about 10 hermits.
- I've read that additives, like dechlorinator can throw off the Skimmer, would something like GFO do the same thing?
- Is the high phosphates a probable cause for a few spots of brown sand/algae?

Here's where I'm talking about in the filter:



Thanks :thumb_up:

 

Weir head

IME - GFO will certainly work when used in a HOB filter , but its less effective in one of those than it would be in a reactor - GFO tends to compact which means in that location water will run over and around it
with a reactor the GFO is moving slightly and thus all surface areas are expossed to water and it becomes more efficient

you can use it in that location, but IME it better to run a smaller QTY and change it more frequently which helps to maximise its efficiency

Do you have corals? especially leather or toadstool type corals?
if the answer is No - then I would look at Seachems Phosguard as a alternative to GFO for Phosphate removal
this white aluminum bead does not compact when used in cannister or HOB filters and thus its more effective than GFO in that type of enviroment

but leather corals sometimes react badly to aluminum based phosphate removers
so stay with GFO if you do have these types of corals

GFO - does not interefere with skimming IME - neither did Phosguard

Steve

 

I actually have 1 leather coral and a brown polyp, so I guess I'll stick with the GFO

 

I'm sure the people at the store told me, but how often would you change the GFO out?
I remember them saying to smash it up and kind of move it around daily, but should I change the entire amount out at some point?

It came in like a long bag, and I used about 1/4 of it in the sock.

 

I change mine every 4 - 6 weeks
phosphate levels are the key when deciding when to throw it away and add new

measure the PO4 of the water that comes out of the cannister
if its the same as the water in the main tank - its time to change it
if its lower, then continue using until its the same

Steve