GFO Keeps Clumping... UGH

[nuxx]

Hey everyone,

I've been running GFO for about a month now and after about 4-5 days the GFO clumps up and moves to the top of the reactor.

Running a TLF Phosban 550 with a Jebao DC1200 pump.

Even with higher flow it clumps up. Same with a lot of GFO or not much at all in the reactor.

I've heard it could be the sponges and was wondering if anyone has replaced their sponges and have better luck with GFO not clumping.

Would these help?

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/MESH-DISK
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/MEDIA-PLATES

Thanks

 

[major stare]

Remove the sponge and adjust the media till its just bubbling.

 

[nuxx]

Remove the sponge and adjust the media till its just bubbling.

Both?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I would leave the top one in.

 

[major stare]

Agreed, remove the bottom one and see how it goes.

I don't use the sponges, just get the media bubbling enough but not too much to cause it to exit the reactor.

 

[nuxx]

Agreed, remove the bottom one and see how it goes.

I don't use the sponges, just get the media bubbling enough but not too much to cause it to exit the reactor.

Well that's an easy fix...

Getting pretty annoying... just tossing GFO left and right...

 

[slief]

I run both sponges and never have an issue with my GFO clumping. The top bottom sponge helps keep the GFO from falling into the reactor and the top one stays at the top of the cartridge and prevents GFO from passing through the reactor into my sump. There is no reason why the sponges should have any impact on clumping. They are there to keep the media from leaving the reactor or falling out of the cartrdige and are benificial in my experience.

I use a BRS Jumbo Reactor and typically use the BRS high capacity GFO. I fill my GFO reactor about 1/3 to 1/2 full with GFO. I set the flow so that I have a constant tumbling/percolation at the surface of the GFO and it always stays unclumped. The key is to keep the GFO moving. Not so much that it's blowing upwards but enough that you can see it moving. In 5 years of running this setup, I have never once had an issue with my GFO clumping.

 

[nuxx]

I run both sponges and never have an issue with my GFO clumping. I set the flow so that I have a constant tumbling/percolation at the surface of the GFO and it always stays unclumped. The key is to keep the GFO moving. Not so much that it's blowing upwards but enough that you can see it moving.

Yeah looks like a light boil or simmer, also tried it a little higher.

Had a lot of dead GHA particles in the water. Might be adding to the clumping of the bottom sponge.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

I plumbed the output of mine to the filter sock to keep any fines from getting out to the sump/DT. Just peace of mind for me since my initial GFO setup I got fines all in my sump from too much tumble.

I leave the top sponge in also. It has never clumped even with a very slow flow.

 

[reef bloke]

Make sure your mag isn't low as if it is calcium carbonate may precipitate onto the ferric media and clump it. PO4 works in a similar way to mag as it prevents caco3 seed crystals from forming. If you have low mag and low po4 locally this could be your reason. It could also be bacterial mulm coating the media if you carbon dose near the reactor pick up.

 

[nuxx]

Make sure your mag isn't low as if it is calcium carbonate may precipitate onto the ferric media and clump it. PO4 works in a similar way to mag as it prevents caco3 seed crystals from forming. If you have low mag and low po4 locally this could be your reason. It could also be bacterial mulm coating the media if you carbon dose near the reactor pick up.

Mag seems fine and I dose one chamber past the GFO

Going to try removing the bottom sponge next.

 

[KingTriton1]

In the mean time I'd keep the GFO line going into a filter sock. What media are you using?

 

[d2mini]

Yeah looks like a light boil or simmer, also tried it a little higher.

Had a lot of dead GHA particles in the water. Might be adding to the clumping of the bottom sponge.

It clumps because something clogs your sponges, which in turn slows down the flow through the reactor, which in turn stops the tumble.

You may need fresh sponges, a different material, or figure out why they are clogging, i.e. pulling in detritus or something.

 

[outssider]

the clumping is caused by calcium carbonate precipitating/binding to the gfo. I had this happening constantly until I switched from bulk Sodium Carbonate to kent superbuffer. I think the sodium carbonate raised the ph in the sump too high causing not just clumping of the gfo but precipitation on heater and pumps. now I have no clumping (even if gfo doesn't tumble) almost no cleaning of submerged equipment and power heads.

 

[maxter]

Zip tied the sponge to the reactor

 

[nuxx]

It clumps because something clogs your sponges, which in turn slows down the flow through the reactor, which in turn stops the tumble.

You may need fresh sponges, a different material, or figure out why they are clogging, i.e. pulling in detritus or something.

Have a feeling it is just pulling crap into the reactor...

Zip tied the sponge to the reactor

Pics?