GFO can cause rtn in sps corals?
- Thread starter ilovesps
- Start date
Scotty freddy
New member
I've found it can cause that issue if tumbled too quickly when putting in fresh GFO, when I add my fresh and I tumble really slow for about a week or so just so it doesn't strip Po4 out too quick. The length that GFO will last depends on a few things i.e bio-load, the amount you are feeding and how often you water change. I have a 228 gallon system that I run 250 grams of RowaPhos in and it lasts me in between 6-8 weeks
jackson6745
Yeah Yeah
If you use GFO when you don't actually need GFO you will have all sorts of problems with your SPS. With that said, I utilize GFO in all my reefs and have great SPS results.
trueblackpercula
New member
+1 very well put and very good advice
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
+1
I've stopped GFO usage for more than a month now and my PO4 is still around 0.02ppm. Tested yesterday with my Elos Merck kit.
My glass wont get any dusting for at least 5 days or more unless I feed heavy for a few days.
I've been thinking of dropping zeovit and going back to GFO after I try biopellets. If I do I plan on using a recirculating GFO reactor so I can adjust the flow rate of the media as well as the flow rate through the reactor from the sump/tank. This would allow me to pull the reactor "offline" but keep the media tumbling in these scenarios where your phosphate is low and you want to take your reactor down.
When I ran GFO in the past and I took the reactor offline I got clumping and had to restart from scratch. With a recirculating mod you're just recirculating the water in the reactor and as long as there is no phosphate in the water you're not wasting product and keeping it from clumping.
When I ran GFO in the past and I took the reactor offline I got clumping and had to restart from scratch. With a recirculating mod you're just recirculating the water in the reactor and as long as there is no phosphate in the water you're not wasting product and keeping it from clumping.
stever1216
New member
In my humble opinion, GFO is a quick problematic fix.
One thing affects another in a reef system.
That said, I have used it before when my R/O system was messed up and not working properly.
Resulted in RTN but did remove phosphates.
I now use a tumbling chaeto fuge and a red Gracilia sump with lots of live rock in my basement sump.
I find this to be a better solution.
It's a lot cheaper long term too...
One thing affects another in a reef system.
That said, I have used it before when my R/O system was messed up and not working properly.
Resulted in RTN but did remove phosphates.
I now use a tumbling chaeto fuge and a red Gracilia sump with lots of live rock in my basement sump.
I find this to be a better solution.
It's a lot cheaper long term too...
If you have a good export mechanism (water changes and good skimmer), reasonable stock list, aragonite sand and/or porous live rock, the tank will take care of the P for you. The great thing is that it is always in equilibrium with "just enough, but not too much" as long as you don't do something dumb. It works, really. I guess that vendors cannot sell patience and ecosystem.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
+1
I am at that stage now with my tank and the PO4 level. Somehow it manages to stay under 0.03ppm without any use of GFO.
BUT, it wasnt always like that. I spent nearly a year fighting PO4 levels of 0.1ppm or higher...at one point I had 1litre of GFO in my sump in my 47G tank! I'm just glad that I dont have to mess around with GFO and saving a tiny bit of $$$ at the same time. I have no hair algae etc. Tank is completely clean of any algae.
My guess is that it will go down to where you cannot even test for it... eventually. It can take a while for the bacteria to grow that were being held back without food - maybe 3-4 months.
If you started with dry/dead rock, please PM me when it gets down to zero - I am doing an informal study on how long it takes for tanks started with mostly dead/dried rock to become true ecosystems. My current hypothesis is about 20-24 months, but the more data, the better. If not, then thanks anyway.
If you started with dry/dead rock, please PM me when it gets down to zero - I am doing an informal study on how long it takes for tanks started with mostly dead/dried rock to become true ecosystems. My current hypothesis is about 20-24 months, but the more data, the better. If not, then thanks anyway.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
I started with half dry rock and half liverock. The dead rock was cleaned of PO4 using LC. The liverock leached lots of PO4; my LFS basically sold me used liverock from a tank breakdown...the giveaway was bits of putty on the rocks...didnt see at time of purchase. :angryfire:
The dead rock with absence of bacteria and the liverock leaching PO4 meant it took a long time and lots of GFO to manage the problem.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
Sorry OP, I should answer your original question.
Yes, GFO can cause RTN in SPS. I've experienced it in my tank.
A few reasons why it can be the cause of RTN:
1. Too much used too quickly. Stripping the PO4 too fast will cause RTN because you've dropped the PO4 levels too fast.
2. Using too much can cause Alk to drop very fast - in a matter of hours.
3. Using GFO when not needed. Linked to 1, but in this state the corals will be starved to the point where they cannot survive. In this state the SPS tend to really pale out first and lose colour. Then suddenly strip one day.
Be very careful with High Capacity GFO especially...Start at 1/4 the amount specified by the manufacturer. Then increase the amount over a few weeks.
If the corals are stripping, remove the GFO immediately, feed the tank a little and carry out small water changes every day to help the corals recover/reverse or slow the tissue loss.
StaghornE
New member
I don't know if it would cause RTN but I have observed personally that when yo po4 levels are a little high and you use GFo to drop them the coral seem to have a little growth spurt resulting in a drop in alkalinity(assuming it's because of the corals taking up more carbonate and not the gfo directly affecting the Dkh level). I would imagine that in certain conditions if the alkalinity were to drop too quickly or too much for that matter it could result in damage to the coral. I constantly run a small amount of gfo in my aquarium.
Well here is one for ya.... Using hi cap GFO on my 60 cube for 2.5 years. PO4 always at zero on my hanna kit. I always add the same amount 12 TBSP's... lasts a few months...
Since I last changed it, I have had 3 weaker colonies stn... However the first one went before the GFO change so I am not convinced it is the GFO... Today STN on a big healthy stag... Everything tests right on the money. In the past higher alk with lower nitrates would stn so I keep my alk at 7-8... No problems for 2 years...
So not knowing what else to try I took my GFO offline today. My system wont grow cheato. Never could. Nitrates are probably too low.... so I don't know what I am gonna do about PO4.. I don't use pellets any more because things grow better and color up better with some nitrates...
Since I last changed it, I have had 3 weaker colonies stn... However the first one went before the GFO change so I am not convinced it is the GFO... Today STN on a big healthy stag... Everything tests right on the money. In the past higher alk with lower nitrates would stn so I keep my alk at 7-8... No problems for 2 years...
So not knowing what else to try I took my GFO offline today. My system wont grow cheato. Never could. Nitrates are probably too low.... so I don't know what I am gonna do about PO4.. I don't use pellets any more because things grow better and color up better with some nitrates...
M Woodhill
New member
Miscalculated amount and flow of GFO can cause huge problems like tip burn no pe rtn...
It once killed a very gorgeous colony of plana of mine
It once killed a very gorgeous colony of plana of mine
ShallowPlanet
In Memoriam
I just pulled GFO off from one of my tanks as I feel it was starving the coral a bit.
