Can GFO kill SPS?
- Thread starter reefslugs
- Start date
tmb22
New member
Yes it absolutely can. I would take some out. I've found that more is not always better with GFO. In fact, less is far better. I've been taking a break from GFO for a while, but I think the best way is to use it is to use much less than the recommended amount, but change it out more frequently.
stormclipper
New member
phosphate reduction has to been slowly and consistantly. The increase of gfo probably dropped the Po4 in your tank too low to quick!
That causes burnt tips.
That causes burnt tips.
jroovers
New member
I tried the BRS high capacity GFO and found that a few of my SPS were receding at the base (not at the tips like you describe). It maybe just strips too many nutrients from the water too fast. I went back to a small amount of regular strength GFO, and things are fine now. Maybe reduce the amount in the reactor by half, and/or reduce the flow through it (if that is an option).
tannersmith2000
New member
I agree with everyone. I use the high capacity GFO from BRS and I use half the amount recommended.
SPS need PO4 but we hate PO4 that feeds/drives nuisance algae. Just better to go slow with GFO and be patient. Watch for effects on corals and algae. If you take your time with adding GFO in small increments, you will be able to make small adjustments without burning tips or worse and you will be able to fine tune your dose with very minimal risk.
This is a little risk to high reward approach.
SPS need PO4 but we hate PO4 that feeds/drives nuisance algae. Just better to go slow with GFO and be patient. Watch for effects on corals and algae. If you take your time with adding GFO in small increments, you will be able to make small adjustments without burning tips or worse and you will be able to fine tune your dose with very minimal risk.
This is a little risk to high reward approach.
shlap
New member
Yep. Mine start losing tissue from the base when phosphates drop too quickly. Now when I initially add GFO I add some Aquavitro Fuel as its loaded with phosphates just so it doesnt drop too quickly. I could add less GFO but I think the Fuel is beneficial to them anyway, minus the phosphate bomb. Hah!
A.G
New member
Can GFO kill SPS?
I statred GFO last week and lost the green on TDF in a day ! Are you positive its the GFO??
I loved that green on it and Iam now on the same boat as you, waiting for the green to appear again.
Its weired
I statred GFO last week and lost the green on TDF in a day ! Are you positive its the GFO??
I loved that green on it and Iam now on the same boat as you, waiting for the green to appear again.
Its weired
tannersmith2000
New member
For simplicity sake, I just have a small bio-load in my reef tank. I have a large 300 FOWLR for fish.
A small bio-load = reduced PO4 with a "little' GFO is the perfect recipe for me.
d2mini
Premium Member
Well, it was an educated guess on my part.
What happened was all of a sudden my tank just looked poor. The aforementioned color issues (which came on really fast) and even my gorgonians were all closed up completely quite suddenly. I had never seen the tank look like that so I knew something was definitely wrong. I was also unable to grow most macro algae, which i was trying to do in a display refugium. At this same time I was testing PO4 and was getting wonky readings using the hanna ulr tester, i believe its the hi736 model that measures phosphorous. Readings were always varied but always high. Always felt like i couldn't trust it due to the varied readings. I started researching what could cause sps colors to go pale and most people said this was from lack of nutrients. My nitrates usually tested around 4 and my PO4 is testing around .08 to .1... how could that be? Then i remembered i have an older red sea liquid phosphate test kit. I used that several times and every time my po4 was pretty much undetectable as far as I could tell. ARGH! So immediately pulled the gfo offline and by the next day all my gorgonians were back to normal. And within a few days I was noticing major color returning to my sps. I also upped my feeding, both the fish food and the coral food.
So in my case, i think the gfo was pulling out that last bit of nutrients. This is not to say that gfo itself is bad, but apparently i just didn't need that extra bit of filtering. This all happened before christmas this year so it's been about a month that I've been running gfo free. This is a short time so we'll just have to see how things progress from here.
jroovers
New member
Some other nutrient control techniques include heavy skimming, regular water changes, growing macro algae in a fuge (calerpa or chaeto), or algae scrubbers.
reefslugs
Active member
Here's another thing, with running GFO. I also run a refugium, a large skimmer, and run bio pellets.
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/user/reefsluge/media/IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/user/reefsluge/media/IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0500_zps49a8aaea.jpg"/></a>
LoJack
New member
That looks more like ALK burn that nutrient deficiency.
Usually, stripped P04 will lead to fading. But like someone has mentioned, adding GFO, or changing it out and upping flow can cause a temporary ALK reduction.
Root cause would still be the GFO because it temporarily dropped your ALK, but I think the ALK is to blame for what I see in that picture.
Usually, stripped P04 will lead to fading. But like someone has mentioned, adding GFO, or changing it out and upping flow can cause a temporary ALK reduction.
Root cause would still be the GFO because it temporarily dropped your ALK, but I think the ALK is to blame for what I see in that picture.
Moser
Active member
That's GFO for sure… I'd take it offline, to avoid further damage, but you could then bring it back real slow later.
I think even if you have a high phos, if you shift levels quickly, it can harm corals. A bit like Alk, in that sense. Try to keep phos levels stable at whatever level you choose.
I wonder what else GFO puts into the aquarium. it might not be phosphate stripping thats the problem, more other heavy metals or such like that are possibly released into the water….. not sure.
I have this issue in my tank and even though I run a slightly higher phos, sudden changes (or larger amounts of GFO) cause tip burn in my tank.
Mo
I think even if you have a high phos, if you shift levels quickly, it can harm corals. A bit like Alk, in that sense. Try to keep phos levels stable at whatever level you choose.
I wonder what else GFO puts into the aquarium. it might not be phosphate stripping thats the problem, more other heavy metals or such like that are possibly released into the water….. not sure.
I have this issue in my tank and even though I run a slightly higher phos, sudden changes (or larger amounts of GFO) cause tip burn in my tank.
Mo
trueblackpercula
New member
To much GFO strips the water to fast and the clarity of the water gets transparent as well. So when that happens the system becomes ULNS really fast and light penetration is better and in turn will burn Sps.
