Flow control through GFO reactor

[boobookitty]

I've been using a GFO reactor to deal with a pretty bad phosphate problem. It's worked well - started at 1.5, down to very low levels - although it's taken 6 months to leach the phosphates from the rock.

The problem is that now that the phosphates are leached out, my phosphates read at 0. I'd like them low, 0.01-0.05, but if I run the GFO reactor it strips all of it out.

I have a flow meter on the input, and the flow rate jumps around quite a bit due to the nature of GFO as well as some clogging and detritus issues; one day the flow rate will be 20 gph, the next down to 12, then back up to 15. So just setting flow rate to a low level all day long is difficult.

So instead I'd like to run the GFO a few hours a day, but my understanding is that if the GFO just sits there for longer periods, it becomes a solid mass. Is that accurate? Any way around this without having it run 24x7?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

GFO must tumble.
Try running a 1/4 amount & see if it helps.
OR every other week.
You will have to play around.

 

[billdogg]

GFO really should only be used if needed. Stop using it and monitor your levels. If they start to rise again, use it sparingly.

 

[droog]

You could try running al algae reactor instead of GFO.

-droog

 

[boobookitty]

I have a fuge; that and vodka dosing keep nitrates down to around 1, but I was left with higher phosphates (0.75) after it had run its course and added the GFO. Took around 6 months for the leaching to work, and now phosphates are fairly low. With GFO running 24x7, too low.

It's been 3 days since I turned off the GFO and my phosphates are at around 0.03. I test every day; if they start going up again I'll try reducing the amount of GFO and see if I can keep it hovering around 0.03.

 

[lionfish300]

Like mention above just run it at need only. I quit running it since it get expensive