GFO Subsitute?

[Piranha76]

Why is rust so expensive. I saw on eBay

Fe3O4 10 pounds for 25 bucks. Anyone use it as a substitute to GFO. Its the same chemical compound.

Google 10 Lb Black Iron Oxide - Fe3o4 - Magnetic Silly Putty / Pigment​

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Are you looking for a medium to substitute in an existing reactor or just another way to control phosphates?

 

[Piranha76]

I’m using chaeto but my PO4 is over 3 ppm. So I researched and GFO. seems like a common practice. The price is ridiculous. I do some research and and found magnet silly puddy Fe(III)O2 the same as GFO. I don’t have a reactor I would put it in my canister filter with filter floss and charcoal. My reactor has bio-pellets in it now.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Well, one option would be to use some lanthanum chloride to reduce the phosphate along with water changes and reduced feeding. You will need to maintain alkalinity with the LaCl3 just like you would with GFO. However, the LaCl3 does not require a reactor and is a liquid that can be dosed.

Are you having nuisance algae problems? If not, why are you so concerned about the phosphate levels?

 

[TessGlo]

I prefer using Brightwell Phospahe E. It's more precise than GFO, removes exactly the amount the dose you choose should, so you don't have to worry about completely stripping the water, like GFO can, and you dont have to run/ maintain/ change a reactor. It's a win all around for me.