How often do you change out your carbon and GFO?

[sean obergfell]

I am really looking for a tight schedule on my maintainence....what is the best schedule for replacing my carbon and GFO?
They are in a duel reactor for my 150 gal.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[cardiffgiant]

I change carbon every 4-6 weeks. I use ROX, which has a bit more longevity in some peoples experience. I don't run GFO.

 

[jackers]

I do Carbon (ROX) ever other week and GFO once a month. I do them as part of my water change schedule. Filter socks go ever 3-4 days.

 

[downbeach]

I run them in separate reactors and change out the GFO when I see the PO4 start to go up, about every two month's in my system. I'm using the BRS high capacity GFO. I use the ROX 0.8 GAC and replace it once a month, I don't think it has much value after that. With a dual reactor I think you'd be better off using the standard GFO, and replace both the media's once a month. You could run them in separate canisters or mix them about 2:1 (GAC:GFO) in each canister.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

jeez... I think my GFO is like 6 months old!

GAC is prolly a couple of weeks running. No set schedule here.

 

[AmherstReef]

I run BRS GFO and GAC in two separate reactors, change both, once a month.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Ideally you'd do both based on some feedback mechanism.

For instance, replace GFO when phosphate rises above your desired level. This assumes you have a desired level in mind and a way to accurately test for it.

A feedback mechanism for carbon is trickier. I remember "back in the day" when it was common to put a little sticker that was half white and half very faint yellow on the back glass of the aquarium. When you could no longer tell the difference between the two by looking through the (yellowing) water, you'd replace the carbon.

 

[Randrew215]

Not to hijack, but you change the filter sock every 3-4 days? I only change mine about every 2-3 weeks. Am I operating a nitrate factory? I change rox carbon and gfo monthly.

 

[jackers]

Not to hijack, but you change the filter sock every 3-4 days? I only change mine about every 2-3 weeks. Am I operating a nitrate factory? I change rox carbon and gfo monthly.

That depends. What are your nitrates at? I just got in the routine when I was making the switch to bare bottom an making sandstorms. Now I just clean my skimmer and swap my sock every few days. Maybe I'll let it go a little longer and monitor my nitrates.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I change mine every 3-5 days. Much past 3 days and they clog to the point that water pours over the top.

 

[iamwrasseman]

both carbon and gfo monthly but after i have been checking for years and thats when i need to do this based on po4 level as an average and carbon for me has been replaced with purigen which i regenerate .
the socks need to be replaced every three days or organic matieral will break down and then there would be no need for the sock IMO .

 

[sail33]

I'm a little off thread but didn't break it. No reactors. Just installed an algae turf scrubber. I'm thinking that is the "new wonder cure" for most tank problems.

I change out the sock every three days MAXIMUM and clean the skimmer at the same time. Whatever is in the sock will start to rot and the skimmer will build up a layer of fatty proteins and neither will work as well.

 

[Arc Drafter]

Unfortunately it isn't a line in the sand question it is really based on your system. If you have nothing introducing phosphate into your water theoretically it will last forever. I would suggest you take the next few months in monitor your phosphate levels.
after you do that you can create an Excel spreadsheet and then you can kind of anticipate your gfo needs.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I am on a 30 day cycle with carbon and gfo. Filter sock every 7.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Unfortunately it isn't a line in the sand question it is really based on your system.

Exactly. Best based on a feedback mechanism, as der wille mentioned.

I'm a little off thread but didn't break it. No reactors. Just installed an algae turf scrubber. I'm thinking that is the "new wonder cure" for most tank problems.

"new wonder cure"? algal turf scrubbers have been around for decades!

 

[Breakbeats2334]

I replace my carbon once every 4/5 weeks and my gfo as my phophates rise above .03/.04 which takes roughly 2 months for me. Filter sock is changed once a week