Anybody quit GFO and live to tell about it?

[LouH]

I've run GFO to lower phosphate in my system for years. I started using it most likely to address some algae issue going on at the time, but probably more because it was something that all the cool kids were doing. I've never been able to consistently measure phosphate using a variety of fairly expensive kits, so I can't say with certainty that my system really needed or benefited from its use. One thing that I can comment on is that chaeto does not do well in my system. It never has, and I've often wondered if the GFO is partly responsible. It likely is. So, I'm considering stopping the use of GFO and hopefully growing some chaeto. Chaeto will help boost pH at night and provide an environment in which pods and Mysis shrimp can thrive.

So, has anyone dropped GFO from their system after extended use, and what were the consequences (both positive and negative).

Lou

 

[juice79]

I ran GFO on my 175g for the first 6 months it was setup. I never had any algae problems but ran it as a preventative measure. I was carbon dosing (vinegar) and decided that I would remove it and see what happens. I have been running the tank with no GFO for for a year now and have seen absolutely no difference. So for me the GFO was clearly doing nothing.

 

[SpartaReef]

No gfo here but my tank is still young... My phosphates read 0.0 and I've got algae but its not out of control.

 

[Pittsburgh]

Nope, still on GFO here. The fact that your chaeto doesn't do well with GFO makes sense to me. GFO easily outcompetes chaeto for nutrients. If you can get your chaeto to grow after dropping GFO, you'll likely be alright as far as phosphates go. But that's a big if.

Personally, I run GFO for two main reasons. I don't have room for a fuge and I like being able to fine tune phosphates with GFO and not worry about taking anything else out of balance. But then again, I wouldn't have any other need for a fuge, pods, shrimp, etc.

 

[jm23]

I stopped the GFO for a few months now and I think everything is doing fine. I think I need to wait longer then a few months to see if I can go without GFO long term.

 

[saltyair]

i run gfo and have cheto in refug. I have also started vinegar dosing (early stage) I think I have a rock from my first start up that might have po4. I can't remove it due to corals on it. I hope over time with cheto and vinegar dosing I can eliminate it. I will always run carbon.

 

[kegogut]

I recently added some dead rock to my sump not thinking and my trates went thru the roof. They were 160+ on API. I think my saving grace as to not getting an algae bloom was the fact that my phos stayed down around .05 because I was running GFO. My cheato does fine with the GFO,cant cut it back with a machete really

I may take the GFO offline once I get my biopellets going and see what happens but will always run GFO on my nano since theres no sump/fuge etc.

 

[mess7777]

I haven't changed mine for 3 months, and phosphates have not gone past .03 on any tests I have run in that time. I use chaeto and an ATS, which seem to be getting the job done.

 

[Madehtsobi]

no gfo here either...just purigen... but my tank is about a year old and algae is there but not out of control...

 

[saveafish]

I put one on mine due to every one saying how it helped. I couldn't tell a difference. I took it off and sold the space thief.

 

[LouH]

I may pull mine just to see what happens. I've always had bubble algae in my system to one degree or another, and it obviously becomes more prominent with increased feeding. I think that I can manage this through feeding adjustments. We'll see.

 

[_shorty_]

I'd just say monitor closely. Po4 swings can make corals unhappy IME.

 

[Reefin' Dude]

what trophic level are you trying to emulate? to me Chaeto dying off is a fantastic sign and the tank is doing great. GFO and chaeto are both after the fact phosphate removers, both are only able to bind inorganic phosphates. the only there would be inorganic phosphates in the system is if wastes are allowed to break down by the bacteria. the amount of this breakdown that is acceptable to the aquarist all depends on the trophic level one is wanting to emulate.

G~

 

[Zobp]

I stopped using GFO for about 4 months, I switched to carbon dosing with not so good results decided to let everything settle and will probably go back to using cheato for the long term.

Decided to turn GFO back on yesterday because I have been battling Cyano. My water quality from 1 day was a huge difference. Most people don't see it as that beneficial but I certainly like it when I can just turn it on and drop my phosphates quickly.

Bio pellets, cheato, and carbon dosing can not have the same effect as quick as GFO can. Right tool right time. Running GFO IMO all the time is just too expensive.

 

[Reefin' Dude]

to get the best results, siphon out the detritus. go after the source of the phosphates instead of waiting for the phosphates to be in a form that GFO, Chaeto, Bio-Pellets and carbon dosing can use.

G~

 

[ChadRaay86]

I haven't changed mine for 3 months, and phosphates have not gone past .03 on any tests I have run in that time. I use chaeto and an ATS, which seem to be getting the job done.

The problem with GFO IMO is the fact that like carbon it will leach organics back into the water column as it becomes to saturated. I recently discovered the aluminium based phospahte removers, which will not leech nutrients back into the water column when exhausted. I'm using whatever brightwells little white bead thing is and it seems to be doing the trick, better than GFO by far.

I may pull mine just to see what happens. I've always had bubble algae in my system to one degree or another, and it obviously becomes more prominent with increased feeding. I think that I can manage this through feeding adjustments. We'll see.

Feeding definitely causes a rise for me, try going 24hrs after a feeding and then test your phosphates. I find this effective for determining how bad my tank is as opposed to the tank with undissolved food in it...

 

[Pittsburgh]

The problem with GFO IMO is the fact that like carbon it will leach organics back into the water column as it becomes to saturated.

This is actually a common misconception about GFO. I used to believe that as well until I did my own tests and then read up on it. Once saturated, GFO does not release phosphates back into water.

 

[jerpa]

This is actually a common misconception about GFO. I used to believe that as well until I did my own tests and then read up on it. Once saturated, GFO does not release phosphates back into water.

Could you provide some sources for this? I've seen a study or two that showed iron oxide hydroxide to release bound phosphates when the phosphate levels in the water column dropped suggesting the sequestering isn't permanent, much like phosphates bound to live rock.

From this article by Randy Holmes-Farley

Interestingly, the concentration of phosphate, in marine sediment pore waters whose sediment is iron oxide hydroxide, appears to be controlled to a great extent by phosphate bound to the iron. Even more importantly, this bound phosphate is still available to the water column by exchange, so the sequestering is temporary rather than permanent.

He found it from this study:

3. Phosphorus phases in the surface sediment of the South Sea. Son, Jaekyung; Lee, Tongsup; Yang, Han Soeb. Dep. Marine Science, Pusan National Univ., Pusan, S. Korea. Han'guk Susan Hakhoechi (1999), 32(5), 680-687.

Some time in the past I thought I had read another one that confirmed this but my google-fu isn't working for me this morning.

 

[jerpa]

to get the best results, siphon out the detritus. go after the source of the phosphates instead of waiting for the phosphates to be in a form that GFO, Chaeto, Bio-Pellets and carbon dosing can use.

G~

I agree that attacking the detritus before it can break down is the most effective way to run a system without GFO, but some inorganic phosphates will always be present. I still believe a small amount could be valuable in preventing the live rock and sand from becoming saturated with phosphates over time. Just to be clear that is purely my own opinion based on no scientific evidence whatsoever.

 

[Sk8r]

I strictly limit it. If I get an excess of film, I run it about 3-4 months, then stop. I have blennies and dragonets, and you can starve your fish out and do in your copepods if you get too enthusiastic with the stuff, ime.