“High” phosphates - More GFO or more flow?

[mike550]

Hello! I’ve been working on lowering my phosphate levels from 0.2-ish down to a target of 0.05-0.1. I have a reactor which is running BRS high capacity GFO but it seems like the phosphate level has plateaued.

Would increasing the volume of GFO or increasing the flow through the reactor help lower the levels?

Thanks in advance

 

[bushdoc]

Flow through the reactor should cause GFO to tumble gently, so if it tumbles and no decrease in phosphates, increase amount of GFO.
You could also try Lanthanum chloride to decrease phosphates and than use GFO as maintanance.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hello! I’ve been working on lowering my phosphate levels from 0.2-ish down to a target of 0.05-0.1. I have a reactor which is running BRS high capacity GFO but it seems like the phosphate level has plateaued.

Would increasing the volume of GFO or increasing the flow through the reactor help lower the levels?

Thanks in advance

How often are you changing the GFO?

 

[mike550]

How often are you changing the GFO?

About every six weeks

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

About every six weeks

You might just need to change it more often then

 

[mike550]

You might just need to change it more often then

Thanks @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal. I think I’m also going to increase the volume of GFO per @bushdoc as well.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thanks @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal. I think I’m also going to increase the volume of GFO per @bushdoc as well.

Don't drop it (phosphates) too fast/too low...

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Is your tank visibly suffering, or is your ocd suffering? I’ve lost countless corals trying to lower my phosphates with GFO. Now I never touch my phosphates . Currently my tank is at .2 also, and besides a few patches of algae it’s doing great, and I haven’t had any coral issues . I guess what I’m trying to say is that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it beyond .2 . Rather try to increase the flow in the tank, increase the light and do a couple of waterchanges.

 

[bushdoc]

I second changing GFO more often, every 4 weeks is a good estimate