Never usually run gfo, but since i have a reactor and gfo on hand ive decided to give it a shot. Hair algae on my back wall along with hazy glass and poor looking sand bed. Its been running for a week now, no signs of clearing up. I measured the correct recommended amount via brs website, how long does it take for this stuff to work? Also, its gfo i got off ebay
Gfo question/concern
- Thread starter Amatuer21
- Start date
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
You will need a test kit, check the water coming out of the reactor compared to the tank.
When they get close or the same change the GFO.
There is also a possibility it is leaching back out of the rock.
When they get close or the same change the GFO.
There is also a possibility it is leaching back out of the rock.
Ok did a few tests for p04 (phosphate checker). Water out of reactor 0, water from dt 0. Since my tank is an aio style, my reactor is in the very first chamber or my tank, not in the return because it is unable to fit in that section. Any thoughts? I also really rinsed the gfo before running it in the reactor just to get rid of the brown dust. Could i have exhausted it before i ran it in my tank? At this point i feel the gfo is useless unless ive done something wrong.
DivingTheWorld
Active member
What are you using to test for phosphate? Assuming you're using a Hanna LR checker, a 0.00 reading would indicate you don't have traceable phosphate in your system. This would mean that either your GFO is working great, or it's unneeded. I'd assume the former based on your algae issue.
There are lots of other factors. What brand GFO are you using and quantity of GFO? For a 20g it wouldn't take much.
As far as flushing the GFO, I'd recommend using either RODI or tank water. I flush as recommended by BRS. I put the output hose in a bucket and turn on the valve. As soon as the output is clear (usually less than a minute) I turn off the valve and put the output hose back in the sump. If you're flushing with tap water, it would definitely use GFO, but I still can't see it exhausting it.
Check out the BRS calculator. It's a good place to start.
There are lots of other factors. What brand GFO are you using and quantity of GFO? For a 20g it wouldn't take much.
As far as flushing the GFO, I'd recommend using either RODI or tank water. I flush as recommended by BRS. I put the output hose in a bucket and turn on the valve. As soon as the output is clear (usually less than a minute) I turn off the valve and put the output hose back in the sump. If you're flushing with tap water, it would definitely use GFO, but I still can't see it exhausting it.
Check out the BRS calculator. It's a good place to start.
DivingTheWorld
Active member
A bit of clarification as I think the OP might be confused. I think what you're saying here is that if the DT reads 0.10 and the water coming out of the reactor reads 0.10, the GFO is exhausted. If the DT and the output both read 0.00, it just means that it's doing it's job.
Thanks for your reply. I did use the brs calculator and according to that i measured 4 table spoons. The gfo i have i got off ebay (supposedly the same as brs) so im not sure if its good or bad but everybody else seems to say its good. I use a mini max reactor which is kind of a pain to rinse the gfo while in the reactor so i just put it in a micron bag and rinse until the water turns clear.
DamonG
New member
I think what your asking is how long before it dies off and you can't see it any longer right? I wish I knew the answer because that's the golden thing.
I would say you might begin to see things change drastically, "as long as levels are low and remain low" in about a week or two. I am just throwing something out there because my tank, with the ulr test has been testing at. 0006 since this past weekend and the two little dots of algea I have, have yet to croak.
Over the years I have found that it's not just the levels and getting them down. But the keeping them down.. And every tank is different. But just going off plants in general, even when you starve them in sunlight , it usually takes a few days at least for them to begin curling over..
I would say you might begin to see things change drastically, "as long as levels are low and remain low" in about a week or two. I am just throwing something out there because my tank, with the ulr test has been testing at. 0006 since this past weekend and the two little dots of algea I have, have yet to croak.
Over the years I have found that it's not just the levels and getting them down. But the keeping them down.. And every tank is different. But just going off plants in general, even when you starve them in sunlight , it usually takes a few days at least for them to begin curling over..
GainesvilleReef
New member
As things die they release nutrients back in the water. A week is not enough to notice a difference. Let it run for a couple of months.
kinda sounds like when I had a cyano outbreak a few years back, coraline doesn't easily fall off