GFO tips

[ScottF]

Anyone have a tips for GFO? Best reactor?

The main issue that I have is that GFO is so fine that it tends to go through the sponge in my reactor and builds up on the floor of my sump. I tried putting it in media bags in the reactor, but it doesn't seem to work as well.

I'm currently using an Aqua Ready Sigma 2. I find it difficult to tune this reactor for GFO. It wants to blast the media out of the top of the reactor unless I turn the pump all the way down. It's hard to make small adjustments with the pump. Also, GFO gets in the base of it making it hard to turn the media canister.

 

[Evil1]

Do you have a flow valve? It must be turned down so the gfo slowly tumbles. Sort of like pea soup slowly boiling. Gfo should not be near the top only churning at the bottom

 

[Sdbuehler1]

Anyone have a tips for GFO? Best reactor?

The main issue that I have is that GFO is so fine that it tends to go through the sponge in my reactor and builds up on the floor of my sump. I tried putting it in media bags in the reactor, but it doesn't seem to work as well.

I'm currently using an Aqua Ready Sigma 2. I find it difficult to tune this reactor for GFO. It wants to blast the media out of the top of the reactor unless I turn the pump all the way down. It's hard to make small adjustments with the pump. Also, GFO gets in the base of it making it hard to turn the media canister.

I feel your pain. I went with the same reactor for my 180 gallon tank. I liked the compact footprint of this reactor but it does leak GFO / rowaphos grains as the sponges they provide are too loose. Every time I change it out there are grains all over the base.

I am using this BRS one in my other tank and it works great but it does take up more space and is made to be mounted / run externally - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-...D=1655&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

 

[Evil1]

I feel your pain. I went with the same reactor for my 180 gallon tank. I liked the compact footprint of this reactor but it does leak GFO / rowaphos grains as the sponges they provide are too loose. Every time I change it out there are grains all over the base.

I am using this BRS one in my other tank and it works great but it does take up more space and is made to be mounted / run externally - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-...D=1655&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I use the BRS as well and no issues

 

[ScottF]

Do you have a flow valve? It must be turned down so the gfo slowly tumbles. Sort of like pea soup slowly boiling. Gfo should not be near the top only churning at the bottom

The Sigma 2 has the pump connected directly to it. You are supposed to be able to adjust the flow by rotating the media canister, but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference and the GFO leaks out and makes it hard to turn the canister.

I think it's just not a very good reactor for GFO. I've ordered the BRS one and will use the Sigma 2 for GAC. It seems fine for that.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

The Sigma 2 has the pump connected directly to it. You are supposed to be able to adjust the flow by rotating the media canister, but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference and the GFO leaks out and makes it hard to turn the canister.

I think it's just not a very good reactor for GFO. I've ordered the BRS one and will use the Sigma 2 for GAC. It seems fine for that.

I'm glad to know that I not the only one baffled by this reactor. Turning the dial at the top does nothing and the pump set to the lowest speed produces about the maximum tumble that you want. You will really appreciate the valve on the BRS reactor that lets you dial in the flow perfectly. When you first turn it on after replacing media, all the media floats to the top but you can just turn it off for a few seconds and then back on again and the media settles on the bottom. Its much easier to operate than the sigma and it just plain works. I think you are right, the sigma is geared more for carbon and other media, not GFO.

 

[ingchr1]

Sieve it to minimize the fines and dust.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sieve-gfo-to-minimize-fines-and-dust.1137123/Also, does it really need to be tumbled in a reactor? Would a mesh bag in a high flow area work just as well?

 

[Uncle99]

I use Phosphate-E to reduce any reading above .2ppm down to .2ppm. This can half the value within 24 hours and saves a ton of money on high phosphate.

Then I use Fauna Marin 0.04ppm to maintain the level.

This product is a bit chunky so stays put in my simple reactor.

It’s never bottomed out my phosphate even after a month of continuous running.

 

[ScottF]

I use Phosphate-E to reduce any reading above .2ppm down to .2ppm. This can half the value within 24 hours and saves a ton of money on high phosphate.

Then I use Fauna Marin 0.04ppm to maintain the level.

This product is a bit chunky so stays put in my simple reactor.

It’s never bottomed out my phosphate even after a month of continuous running.

I have a couple different lanthanum products including Phosphate-E, but I don't like using them. I've seen too many horror stories of people killing all of their fish and I also wonder what the long term effects are.

If I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day for a year, it's probably not going to hurt me. If I do it for 40 years...

 

[Uncle99]

I have a couple different lanthanum products including Phosphate-E, but I don't like using them. I've seen too many horror stories of people killing all of their fish and I also wonder what the long term effects are.

If I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day for a year, it's probably not going to hurt me. If I do it for 40 years...

I can respect that thinking.

I only need to use it once, every 6 months or so, last 7 years, so far, no issues.

But I have heard to what you post.

 

[winxp_man]

Stick with GFO. Mine dropped from .25-.20 down to .05 super fast to the point i had to turn it off and then start it again but slow it down way more. I have the BRS system and that comes with the valve that you can slow it town with. It’s how you control the GFO from going all over the place. I use the Phosphate Minus and even though it’s not needed to be rinsed I do it. BUT in salt water right as I’m doing a WC. I know RODI rinse can strip if of its ability to strip Po4 out. But SW will keep its power to strip Po4 better than RODI. I do it in two 1.5g buckets . One with the pump, the other with the drain water. And a 5gal bucket with the SW.