Gfo escaped into tank.

[grussell]

I have a two year old 75 gallon mixed reef. I have a dual brs reactor with carbon and gfo. I have eight fish and mixed softies and lps and some shrimp, snails, one rbta. I changed my media yesterday as I do once a month. Overnight my water clouded up and took on a brown hue, obviously the gfo got into the tank. Can't figure out how as I took the reactor apart and it all looks normal. I took out the gfo and replaced with carbon so now I run carbon x2. I changed water with what I had left. Fish that I can see are alive but I can't see more than 1-2 inches into tank. Water is murky and reddish toward the bottom. How much trouble am I in? Is this gonna nuke my tank? Aside from water changes what else should I do? Anyone seen a brs reactor do this suddenly? It's worked fine like this for 2 years...

 

[Tweaked]

Do a big WC as soon as possible. You should be fine if you get the water clear soon.

 

[billdogg]

did you rinse it well before use? I've never heard of it being so bad.

Lots of water changes, and if you have it, a Diatom Filter (Vortex XL or similar), or even a canister filter stuffed full of pillow stuffing to pull it out.

 

[Fitz19d]

Is canister submerged, possibly not screwed on straight/seal failed. Forget to put the foam pad on top?

 

[grussell]

I assembled it correctly, it hangs on back of stand as I have no sump. Multiple water changes should help then? Will the gfo dissolve? It's currently everywhere. I even see it in my hob skimmer.

 

[Tweaked]

I have seen it happen from over tumbling or left in too long or both.

 

[grussell]

Update, water is largely clear after change and running extra carbon. However the gfo is over everything. I'm gonna blast it then change the water while it is suspended. My red velvet wrasse died this am but the other seven fish and all inverts, coral, anemone are fine. Odd that just that wrasse died. I'm gonna buy a new dual reactor. I can't find anything I did wrong with the current one so can't trust it. Has anyone tried the spectrapure one that has valves to control each side?

 

[kouma]

Update, water is largely clear after change and running extra carbon. However the gfo is over everything. I'm gonna blast it then change the water while it is suspended. My red velvet wrasse died this am but the other seven fish and all inverts, coral, anemone are fine. Odd that just that wrasse died. I'm gonna buy a new dual reactor. I can't find anything I did wrong with the current one so can't trust it. Has anyone tried the spectrapure one that has valves to control each side?

I have the spectrapure one and been using it for 2 years. I have yet to face any issues.

 

[fishgate]

How does this hurt the water when it is already in the tank? Mine discolors the water briefly when I change it but it clears up in a few hours I have never worried about it.