First GFO Reactor

[Travis Stewart]

I'm about to order my first GFO Reactor. Total volume is 45-50 gallons. Have small areas with GHA. Most corals are healthy and happy but want to bring PO4 down. I will start with 1/4-1/3 of recommended amount of GFO.

Any additional thoughts I should be aware of?

 

[wkscott]

Do you have corals in the tank? If not you can start with 100% of the recommended amount.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Yes tons of coral

 

[Dave1045]

If you have any algae - the GFO should knock it right out.

 

[Travis Stewart]

If you have any algae - the GFO should knock it right out.

How long does it take to start seeing a difference?

 

[mtraylor]

What is your current PO4 level and what are you measuring it with?

 

[Dave1045]

How long does it take to start seeing a difference?

I run PhosBan- and I noticed a HUGE difference in just 1 week..

 

[Travis Stewart]

What is your current PO4 level and what are you measuring it with?

0.18 hanna ULR

 

[Maacc]

Be very careful. Go really slow I almost wiped out my jbj 45 by stripping the water with gfo and carbon. My tank is 10 x happier with no gfo and water changes.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Be very careful. Go really slow I almost wiped out my jbj 45 by stripping the water with gfo and carbon. My tank is 10 x happier with no gfo and water changes.

I do weekly water changes and feed every 2-3 days. I have an over rated skimmer and chaeto. Still getting very small areas of GHA. Will start with 1/3 recommended amount

 

[Dave1045]

Be very careful. Go really slow I almost wiped out my jbj 45 by stripping the water with gfo and carbon. My tank is 10 x happier with no gfo and water changes.

Absolutely- GO SLOW!

 

[Travis Stewart]

Absolutely- GO SLOW!

So is 1/3 too much? Should I try 1/4?

 

[Maacc]

I do weekly water changes and feed every 2-3 days. I have an over rated skimmer and chaeto. Still getting very small areas of GHA. Will start with 1/3 recommended amount

Pick what you can of the gha even with the gfo and be ready to take it offline if things start to go south.
Question, do you feed frozen or dry food?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Pick what you can of the gha even with the gfo and be ready to take it offline if things start to go south.
Question, do you feed frozen or dry food?

I do already manually remove. I only feed frozen reef frenzy very small amounts and fish consume all that's fed.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Reccomendations on phosban??

 

[Maacc]

I used branded stuff and gfo in bulk from bulk reef supply. There was no difference I could discern.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Okay so just treat it as normal, thanks!

 

[mtraylor]

0.18 hanna ULR

Yes I would start with 1/3 of the recommended amount since you have allot of corals. You can check the levels again like 3 hours after you put it on line and you will see a difference.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Yes I would start with 1/3 of the recommended amount since you have allot of corals. You can check the levels again like 3 hours after you put it on line and you will see a difference.

How long would you say it takes to start seeing a difference?

 

[mtraylor]

How long would you say it takes to start seeing a difference?

Well that is a tricky question. You can see that the phosphates will drop pretty quickly. Its noticeable within hours. As you starve the algae from its source..... well that takes time for say algae to die off. Say a week or 2.