Alternative to GFO

[RobZilla04]

Its going to be exhausted quickly and then just useless sitting there..

Its basically a sponge in a puddle.. It fills up to what it can take then you just have a wet sponge in a puddle..

IMO...Identify/stop the reason for the elevated phosphate then use GFO to drop it and then discontinue GFO.
I personally don't understand why people run it long term..

My reason is probably similar to most if not all others: feeding. I know I overfeed (slightly or moderately).

I have a pair of damsels which pick at birdsnest coral. The way to eliminate this is to make sure they are full and happy. Additionally I tend to leave monthly for at least a few days during which time the fish are unfed. Overfeeding during the week compensates.

 

[reefgeezer]

It is possible to regenerate GFO. It's a PIA but cuts expenses.

 

[mcgyvr]

I have a pair of damsels which pick at birdsnest coral. The way to eliminate this is to make sure they are full and happy.

Nothing like needing to pay for GFO and excessive food for a few dollars in fish..
Flush them and problem solved..
Its damsels man.. Dime a dozen.. Solve the problem..:blown:

 

[RobZilla04]

Nothing like needing to pay for GFO and excessive food for a few dollars in fish..
Flush them and problem solved..
Its damsels man.. Dime a dozen.. Solve the problem..:blown:

If catching them was only that easy. Guess a fish trap would solve that problem.

Six months or so ago I destroyed half my scape to remove one of them. That effort took a week to accomplish and weeks more to rescape/recover.

Not to mention I'd still have excess nutrients just from the bio load, even if I removed two small damsels.

 

[mcgyvr]

Not to mention I'd still have excess nutrients just from the bio load, even if I removed two small damsels.

And a single shot of GFO will take care of that right after you stop overfeeding

Or if you are having both nitrate and phosphate issues then try carbon dosing if you aren't already.. That will drop both..
I'd recommend vinegar or vodka vs biopellets.. Liquid is just so much easier/faster,etc...

 

[RobZilla04]

Yes been back on the Vinegar/Vodka/RODI (DIY NoPox) carbon dosing for a few weeks now. Had some major issues earlier this year. As a result I cut everything, did several large WC and waited nearly two months. As levels (PO4 & NO3) have crept up I began slowly dosing carbon and installed the GFO reactor.

The purpose of the post was to search for a longer lasting media vs GFO. As typical this thread got far from the original intention and that's not a bad thing. Many folks benefit from reading more information than not enough.

I'll stick with small amounts of GFO and consider a media bag vs the reactor for maintenance.

 

[reefgeezer]

The purpose of the post was to search for a longer lasting media vs GFO. As typical this thread got far from the original intention and that's not a bad thing. Many folks benefit from reading more information than not enough.

I'll stick with small amounts of GFO and consider a media bag vs the reactor for maintenance.

Unfortunately, GFO in one form or another is the most efficient media you can run in a reactor for phosphate reduction. A bag just makes it much less efficient. It will last longer but not reduce any more phosphate.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that GFO is hard to beat for some situations. I can't think of another media that's better.

 

[zachfishman]

It is possible to regenerate GFO. It's a PIA but cuts expenses.

Not that bad a chore, all it takes is a 5 gallon bucket and a dedicated pump if you don't want to pull the reactor feed pump from your display. I regenerate Rowaphos (the best GFO IME) constantly and it works great.

 

[Uncle99]

I was much more succesful in lowering phosphate with ROWAPHOS than PHOSGUARD.
Phosguard took me from .25 to .12 but that's the most it would do.
Another member suggested ROWAPHOS, twice as expensive, but reduced it further from .12 to .03 - .05. in one week. Just put it in a bag, put it in the flow, and done.

 

[zachfishman]

I was much more succesful in lowering phosphate with ROWAPHOS than PHOSGUARD.
Phosguard took me from .25 to .12 but that's the most it would do.
Another member suggested ROWAPHOS, twice as expensive, but reduced it further from .12 to .03 - .05. in one week. Just put it in a bag, put it in the flow, and done.

+1 I found the aluminum media (phosguard) to be less effective. Rowaphis was far superior IME to even BRS HC GFO