Regenerating GFO causing bacteria bloom?

[el aguila]

I have been regenerating high density GFO for about 3 years now. First I soak the GFO in vinegar for a day then a lye solution for 3 days. Everything seemed to work out fine.

I have two homemade GFO reactors for my 190 with 400 gallons of total water volume. Every month I change one of the reactors out with about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of GFO during a water change. At the same time I change out one of my carbon reactors.

The last two times that I have done this I'm getting some sort of bacterial bloom (milky water) and an abnormal amount of red residue that seems to get absorbed by algae and filter socks.

At the last water change I was sure to rinse the GFO with RO water about double what I normally do before putting the reactor online. The milkiness of the water was about half as bad as the first time with the extra rinse.

I might also add that I use GFO and carbon 24/7 because about 3 years ago, I had a 3 year old dump a large container of NLS pellets in my sump. Many water changes and gray hairs later I can at least grow most SPS, but algae has been a constant battle.

 

[el aguila]

I'm probably going to regenerate my my present stock of GFO again, but I am posting this to hopefully understand what is going on.

I've never had a bacteria bloom like this in my tank before (just algae, cyno, etc).

Does the High Capacity GFO reach a limit where there are issues with constant regeneration? In the last three years my stock of GFO is about half of what I started with because of loosing some here and there plus it seems to have more fines in it because I assume that it is slowly wearing away.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The GFO is likely releasing both particulate and dissolve iron, which, if a limiting factor, can spur algae. Even new GFO does this, but the recharging might be contributing.

Are you monitoring phosphate to know it is still working?

 

[el aguila]

No, I am not monitoring phosphates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So perhaps the regeneration is no longer effective (organics begin to clog it, etc.) and it is rising.

 

[Cory]

I wonder if the milky white bacteria for is caused by them consuming the vinegar?

If you can measure ph and it drops after a few hours its likely vinegar.

 

[FranklinDattein]

Are you sure the milky water is bacteria? I wouldn't make this assumption unless you are certain.
The amount of vinegar in rising GFO is negligible and unlikely to br enough to cause a bacterial boom. Also, at the point bacteria turns the water milky, your fishes should show signs of difficult breathing.

I would guess this is something leeching from the old gfo.

 

[Cory]

Are you sure the milky water is bacteria? I wouldn't make this assumption unless you are certain.
The amount of vinegar in rising GFO is negligible and unlikely to br enough to cause a bacterial boom. Also, at the point bacteria turns the water milky, your fishes should show signs of difficult breathing.

I would guess this is something leeching from the old gfo.

dp

 

[Cory]

Are you sure the milky water is bacteria? I wouldn't make this assumption unless you are certain.
The amount of vinegar in rising GFO is negligible and unlikely to br enough to cause a bacterial boom. Also, at the point bacteria turns the water milky, your fishes should show signs of difficult breathing.

I would guess this is something leeching from the old gfo.

True. But dont make the assumption that hes rinsing gfo in vinegar. Hes soaking it for 3 days.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There's no significant acetate/vinegar left if he uses vinegar then lye then RO/DI rinsing. :)

 

[el aguila]

Yes, after it is soaked in vinegar it is rinsed in RO, then soaked in lye, and then a final rinse in RO, so the vinegar is not an issue.

This time it cleared up after a day and a half. Fish really don't look distressed. My lone gorgonian has it's polyps retracted and so does some LPS. SPS looks fine.

At this point, I have decided to quit using the GFO.

 

[Cory]

Yes, after it is soaked in vinegar it is rinsed in RO, then soaked in lye, and then a final rinse in RO, so the vinegar is not an issue.

This time it cleared up after a day and a half. Fish really don't look distressed. My lone gorgonian has it's polyps retracted and so does some LPS. SPS looks fine.

At this point, I have decided to quit using the GFO.

Try making an ats. Mine keeps po4 and no3 at zero. No skimmer, no water changes. :)

 

[Jerzyray]

The GFO is likely releasing both particulate and dissolve iron, which, if a limiting factor, can spur algae. Even new GFO does this, but the recharging might be contributing.

Are you monitoring phosphate to know it is still working?

hi Randy, Im having trouble with cloudy water. It started after i put my GFO mix GAC reactor. it is the cheap GFO from BRS. I ran it in a bucket to clean it then put it on my tank. Cloudy water. there is no tumbling in the reactor. Should i shut it down? THANKS

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

hi Randy, Im having trouble with cloudy water. It started after i put my GFO mix GAC reactor. it is the cheap GFO from BRS. I ran it in a bucket to clean it then put it on my tank. Cloudy water. there is no tumbling in the reactor. Should i shut it down? THANKS

The tank is cloudy orange (GFO fines) or cloudy white (something else)?