Phosban vs cheato

Angler02

Angler02

Active member
So about 5 or 6 years ago when I got out I was running gfo and carbon on my tanks, getting back in now I have geared myself up to run my tank the same. Up until last night when I came across an article about the negatives of running gfo with corals. I'm hoping to hear some opinions or first hand experience about each and what everyone is using and why or why not. Is what I read your typical 6 in one hand half dozen in the other or are there real results that correlate with not running gfo?

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I chased phosphates with GFO for years at great expense without a lot of luck. Since my cheato bed has matured, I consistently have 0 phosphate with no extra expense.
 
also checkout the video on BRS TV on growing lights. Dont be fooled by a shop light CFL. (which i have used and did fine but not 100% efficient)
 
Throwing a wrench in this thread and suggesting lanthanum chloride. Pool chemical bottle for 14.99 on Amazon. It will last you a lifetime.... easily
 
Thanks guys. All great stuff and a few ideas for me to pursue tonight and do some more reading. I'm trying to figure thus out now so I can plan my sump correctly. Does everyone who doesn't run gfo run carbon still?

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I would avoid regular use of GFO and carbon. Carbon is speculated to cause HLLE and I witnessed it first hand. I think getting the mindset of creating the optimal environment, with natural methods of refugia, lots of quality liverock, and conservative fish stocking/feeding.

Too often we over stock, put the wrong size fish in small tanks, overfeed, then attempt to bandaid the inevitable high levels of pollutants with various fixes.
 
Nanook said:
I would avoid regular use of GFO and carbon. Carbon is speculated to cause HLLE and I witnessed it first hand. I think getting the mindset of creating the optimal environment, with natural methods of refugia, lots of quality liverock, and conservative fish stocking/feeding.

Too often we over stock, put the wrong size fish in small tanks, overfeed, then attempt to bandaid the inevitable high levels of pollutants with various fixes.
Click to expand...
Very well put. Seeing this and speaking with you guys has definitely set my mind on a different path as far as filtration set up.

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I ran gfo for 8 years. Always had issues. Then I switched to Cheato and now I have a balanced tank. I do still run biopellets but a very very small amount. I also used lanthaliumchloride (seaklear) to knock my Po4 down then Cheato to maintain at near 0.0-0.02.

They trick is to light it from all possible sides otherwise it just floats to the top and the bottom dies. I have 2 Pharos Led's on the front glass of my Cheato growout and 2 led pendant lights over the Cheato. If I could get to the back of the sump I would move one of the Pharos back there but this works really well so far.
 
I run carbon only changed out around every 3-4 weeks, have yet to run gfo. Just a skimmer and W.C's every 7-10 days. Only dose reef builder to maintain alk. I just wanted to keep it simple this time around as much as possible.
 
I really do appreciate all the input. Thanks to everyone. I'm actually very intrigued by the rain2 algae scrubber. I've been watching some videos and reading about it and it seem very effiecnt.

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Nanook said:
I would avoid regular use of GFO and carbon. Carbon is speculated to cause HLLE and I witnessed it first hand. I think getting the mindset of creating the optimal environment, with natural methods of refugia, lots of quality liverock, and conservative fish stocking/feeding.

Too often we over stock, put the wrong size fish in small tanks, overfeed, then attempt to bandaid the inevitable high levels of pollutants with various fixes.
Click to expand...

100% same experience. I was running carbon in a GFP reactor, which i think made a lot of dust (too much flow), started noticing the some fishes with HLLE. i didnt even know it was a thing until posting pictures and researching. Working on healing the fish now, everyone seems to be doing fine. Hopefully just a matter of time.

id say if your first starting out, BRS TV is very helpful.
 
I've kept salt before I just got out for a while. I actually purchased an algae scrubber today, I'm going to run that and eventually a skimmer if needed. I have a few reactors that I can run carbon in if I decide i ever want to. I'm going to control the phosphate and nitrates with water changes and algae scrubber.
 
this is only personal option which i gathered from experiance and research (as you know there are tons), meaning everyone has their own expert opinion....

I would personally have a skimmer over any refuge/algae scrubber.

Curious on other's thoughts
 
clevername2000 said:
this is only personal option which i gathered from experiance and research (as you know there are tons), meaning everyone has their own expert opinion....

I would personally have a skimmer over any refuge/algae scrubber.

Curious on other's thoughts
Click to expand...

What he said.^
 
I watched a very detailed review on algae scrubbers and I think I'm a believer. He ran one with no skimmer during the break in period and it took phosphates and nitrates to 0.

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I have nothing against algae scrubbers. I have considered one in my system. My understanding (someone please correct me if I am wrong) is that skimming removes a wider variety of dissolved organics than algae does. I would consider using both.
Keep us posted on how the algae scrubber works for you. I have heard they are much more efficient than chaeto which is what I am using now.
 
Yeah I plan to do a week by week update. They video and review I watched on this, the guy used the scrubber to cycle his tank from day one on a 120 gallon tank. He tracked his phosphate levels and nitrate levels weekly and watched then drop. He added full bioload of fish at 12 weeks and had no issues at all. This was starting the tank with dead rock no live and no food or fish to cycle. Pretty amazing to watch.

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