Do you use GFO??

[tunicata]

Hey folks,

Do you use GFO? Why? If so, do you ascribe to a specific brand? If so, why?


I took my GFO offline about 3 mos ago in order to start my biopellets.

I keep "forgetting" to test my water frequently to track chemistry changes, but I'm not liking the visual results I'm getting. Way more algae on the tank than before.

So, needless to say I'm going to go back to GFO at the very least (will run carbon for 2wks after the first batch of gfo) and see how that goes.

I'll test tonight or tomorrow and see if my nitrates are that bad. If so I'll switch slowly from the biopellets to dosing vinegar with my BRS Doser.

Also, I researched the AIO biopellets and since I run my reactor off of my manifold it'll be more expensive to run those as compared to the lighter regular biopellets (I use a simple TLF Phosban reactor modified for biopellets).

 

[tunicata]

Hm, so I did my test...and even though my tank VISUALLY has way more algae than it ever has and more soft tissue reduction on LPS and imminent death for SPS...my API test kits for phos and nitrate says it's the lowest yet!!!

Phos reads at .25 (very light light green tea color on api chart but am choosing the higher reading).

Nitrate reads at 10 but I'm choosing 15ppm.

Neither of those is really all that bad and compared to my past of near 1ppm phos and 20-30 ppm nitrates.

My hanna phos checker is slightly broken so I don't trust the readings anymore (I took it apart to change the battery and it's never fit back together correctly since).

This would suggest that the biopellets are working fine, and that I can use gfo spottingly.

This is good because I need to be feeding my fish more. I honestly barely feed them, which was another strategy to reduce poor numbers.
Luckily, I have about 200mls left of the biopellets so I will not give up 100% just yet.

It's kind of funky in my sump (the waste from skimmer) but we'll see.

 

[trueblackpercula]

did use it in the past not anymore since dosing biodiget

 

[tunicata]

Hm, biodigest is the only cleaning agent you use?
I still have a few prodibio nano packs but shut down my nano a while ago. I've seen some decent sales on drsfoster in the past for the bioclean but it just seems the more expensive route compared to gfo and biopellet combination (since I already have the reactors, media, and dosing equipment).

How much do you go through on your 120?