anyone running without carbon/GFO ?

[kevensquint]

I've always had a hard time getting some PO4 and NO3. (Yes I prefer to have a little). I believe my large remote DSB and large macro-fuge are too efficient. Anyways, I have been running a few months without GFO and today I pulled my carbon. Anyone else go commando?

 

[MarinaP]

I don't and never have

 

[ReefKeeper64]

GFO yes, carbon no.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I don't run either. I used to run carbon but stopped about a year ago.

Horrible picture but you get the idea

 

[kevensquint]

Nice tanks

 

[tmc1313]

Good question, I'm also interested about this . Following along

 

[AdamDeMamp]

I don't run either as well.

 

[Dexters Reef]

I dont use a carbon or gfo reactor, but if you mean any source of carbon or gfo, I do use 3 bags of chemipure elite in my sump

 

[Cac986]

I just started (within 2 months) using a GFO and carbon reactor. I use only 1/3 of the recommended amount of GFO, and I only change my carbon once monthly. I have not noticed any changes in coral growth or coloration at this point, but I also notice less algea on my sand bed and glass. I know some of us think PO4 is bad, but this is way to simplistic. Coral use PO4 to grow so removing all P04 (inorganic or organic) can turn those beutiful corals white overnight.

 

[JAustin]

I thought about this too. Since my total water volume is only 60g I figure a good heaping pile of macro should be more than enough to eat up po4. I also have a BP reactor I thought about setting up to deal with no3. It would be nice to stop using GFO and carbon.

May have to try this out.

 

[stever1216]

I run a little carbon regularly, but only 1/2 cup monthly on a 300 gal. system.
Lots of chaeto and gracilia macro however.

 

[trueblackpercula]

No carbon or GFO but I do dose Vodka

 

[trueblackpercula]

I don't and never have

Wow incredibly beautiful do you have a tank or build thread. Would love to see it

 

[watchguy123]

It sounds a little like there is some uncertainty about nutrient control and filtration, in particular the role of GFO, carbon, refugiums, sand beds and vodka dosing. My understanding (and it is pretty limited), 1.) GFO functions on removing phosphates, 2. Carbon "polishes" the water and removes some of the yellow tint (sorry I don't remember what causes the yellow tint), 3. refugiums via algae growth remove primarily nitrates 4. Sand beds deal with denitrification but some believe they may be nitrate beds or worse because of the aerobic bacteria in the deep sand bed 5. vodka or carbon dosing works primarily on nitrates and to a lesser extent on phosphates by increasing bacteria to consume these nutrients. And then what about protein skimming...

Wish I knew more, sounds like some of us could use a reefing for dummies book so we could really understand all this. Well, maybe better said: I know I could use a reefing for dummies book.

 

[FranktheTankTx]

The one certainty is that there indeed seems to multiple ways to achieve success with reef tanks