GFO Reactor Set Up Today

Rob.D · Mar 30, 2012

Well, after three months of pondering whether to set up the reactor or not, today I rinsed the GFO, plugged in the Maxi Jet 1200 and watched the reactor fill with water. The GFO flowed nicely and I cautiously walked away; I have heard so many different versions of what could happen, some stories tell of burnt SPS tips and some stories of extreme reduction of nuisance algae. I have just over one cup of GFO in the reactor, just slightly less than the BRS calculator recipe calls for but I am going to run the reactor on the cautious side with hopes that I only get a reduction in algae, without any adverse effects to my corals. So wish me luck, unless you enjoy horror stories of tank crashes

REEFKEEPER10 · Mar 30, 2012

Good luck. I just put a bag of gfo in my sump about to weeks ago. Nothing bad has happened yet. Knock on wood

cee · Mar 31, 2012

A cup does seem like a lot. Is that what BRS recommends? I normally start with 1/2 of what the manufacturers recommend and go from there. Do you have an algae problem?

Dowtish · Mar 31, 2012

Agree with cee. I would start with half or even less, and work your way up over a few weeks. Any sudden changes to a system can be bad. Even when its removing phosphate and nitrates, you don't want to strip it too quickly.

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Rob.D · Mar 31, 2012

cee said:
A cup does seem like a lot. Is that what BRS recommends? I normally start with 1/2 of what the manufacturers recommend and go from there. Do you have an algae problem?

Not a whole lot of algae, BRS recommends 1.88 cups.

REEFKEEPER10 · Mar 31, 2012

i agree with dowtish and cee. take it slow. there is only a quarter of a cup in the bag in my sump.

Rob.D · Mar 31, 2012

Do you guys recomend removing maybe half of what I have in the reactor?

Rob.D · Mar 31, 2012

Ok, I shut the reactor off until I get further input. I'm taking my sons to the park this morning and I'll get the reactor running later this afternoon. I am all ears to suggestions.

cee · Mar 31, 2012

I used to run no more than a 1/4 cup even in my 320 gallon, and that was in a bag in the sump. You could argue I wasn't using enough but I never had an algae problem. Now I run none and I still don't have an algae problem so go figure.

Dave

ritter6788 · Mar 31, 2012

BRS recommendations are high IMO. I run less than half of what they recommend on my 75 and I get good results. I have experienced the burned tips on my sps when using GFO too aggressively. Every tank is different though. I won't run GFO without a good phosphate test like the Hanna Checker anymore. If you don't have a phosphate test I'd run small amounts and change out more frequently. I can tell when mine needs to be changed I start getting a algae film on the glass. Usually about 3 weeks.

Rob.D · Mar 31, 2012

I feed very heavy, at least twice a day with a home made mix. I do not test for phosphates but I have a small amount of hair algae and cyano.

Dapple · Mar 31, 2012

Good thread my friend. A lot of info here I did not know about. I was thinking of getting a brs or phosban reactor . I don't have a algae problem just a few hair algae outbreaks that my CUC handles pretty well. I run one bag of chempure elite in my sump

Rob.D · Mar 31, 2012

Does any one know if there is a calculator/recommended use amount by another manufacture/reseller?

EvilMel · Apr 2, 2012

Lawmanrob said:
I feed very heavy, at least twice a day with a home made mix. I do not test for phosphates but I have a small amount of hair algae and cyano.

You also have a ton of fish and don't water change much.

Guys, he's not running one of the ULNCs like you are. He's got PLENTY of nutrients to bind up before he goes so low it'll affect the corals. I can see why he'd be paranoid after reading your posts. Tell us exactly why you are saying that he should back off on the amount of GFO he uses. I'm curious. It's just based on removing too much phosphate too fast? You think he'll crash the population of good bacteria that he's got in the tank?

I set mine up and I'm running 2 cups on it for now. I'm in the midst of a serious cyanobacteria invasion though and there's hair algae in places that my tangs can't get to (like overflows). So I'm not overly worried about it.

cee · Apr 2, 2012

****, I gotta do your research too (JK)?

From the DFS product: "Suggested Use: For freshwater aquariums and ponds, use 1 tablespoon (Tbsp.) of PhosPure per 50-gallons of water, monthly. For saltwater aquariums or heavily stocked freshwater aquariums or ponds, use 1 Tbsp. per 25-gallons of water, monthly. For reef or freshwater-planted aquariums, use 1 Tbsp. per 20-gallons of water. Monitor phosphate levels with a test kit and maintain levels under 0.05 ppm. Replace media as necessary as phosphate levels begin to rise."

From Holmes-Farley: "Salifert recommends using 250 mL (8.5 ounces) of its product (Phosphate Killer) to treat a 125-250 gallon tank for up to three months. There is, however, nothing wrong with starting with 1/10 that amount to see what happens. While it may be more work, using one ounce and changing it after two weeks may reduce some of the issues that aquarists have observed when changing the media.

Aquarists should also be aware that dropping phosphate to extremely low (i.e., growth limiting) levels may cause undesirable effects that reef aquarists do not typically encounter without using such materials."

So, DFS recommends 1/4 cup per 100 gallons and Salifert 1/2 cup+ per 100 gallons. 2 cups is too much IMO and a waste of expensive GFO but if it is working for you stick with it. If you don't have an accurate Phosphate test kit adding random amounts based on someone else's formula can be dangerous. We're just trying to save Rob's corals.

I did 1/4 cup in my 125 and replaced it every 2 weeks. That was after starting for 2 months with 1/2 that amount. The whole time I monitored the PO4 with a Merck test kit. The problem is you need some PO4 in the system as it is fuel for algae, including symbiotic zoanthellae (or however you spell it) in corals.

Rob.D · Apr 2, 2012

Dave, I truly appreciate the info you have gathered and I will take your advice. I'm going to cut back to a 1/4 cup and get a Hanna tester.

cee · Apr 3, 2012

Since you serve mankind in your work and I'm no longer using it, you're welcome to my Merck test kit. Just LMK if you want it. It is the best non-photometric kit but is no longer available in this country.

Dave