Questions about using GFO

[StupidsReef]

Ok I thought I'd post this here first to see if anyone in this club can give their opinoins.

I just bought this unit today:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbo...UAL"-GFO-and-Carbon-Reactor/product_info.html

And then this GFO media today as well:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon-and-Phosphate-Remover-GFO-Phosphate-Remover-(GFO)-Pellet-GFO/c109_8_88/p35/Two-Gallons-(9-pounds)-Granular-Ferric-Oxide-PELLETS/product_info.html

Ok I was going to buy this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calcium,-Alkalinity-&-Magnesium-Magnesium/c1_4/p12/One-Gallon-(7-pounds-)-of-Magnesium-Chloride-Flakes/product_info.html as well but after thought I didn't.

I was going to buy the Magnesium Chloride flakes because I run a Calk reactor therefor I don't need the Magnesium Sulfate flakes. I was wanting to keep the mag levels @ around 1300ppm. I haven't tested the mag levels yet, I plan on doing that this weekend. So I didn't buy it. I don't have the test kit yet, don't add unless you can test......

Here's my questions:
1) How much GFO media to use??
I understand that the recomend amount is 2-3 grams per gallon. But after researching, Randy Harly Fomles said to use 1/10 of that. He claims to start out with the least amount you can and see how the system does.
2) How long does this stuff last, presuming it's working and is good?? The site say's a few months, Randy say's a week to a few months.
3) I bought this stuff to help control my phosphate issue's. I don't have much hair alge at all, but I can't get rid of the canyo red carpet on the rocks and sand bed. Now after researching I find that using CARBON in one of the unit's with the GFO will help and works much better. Then to my surprize, I find that boosting the Magnesium levels from 1300ppm to 1600ppm for 1 week with the Carbon & GFO both in a reactor @ the right amount will greatly & saftly reduce the amount of phosphate within the system!?!

I have just placed (this week) cheato into sump to help remove phosphates. I'm hoping to use the cheato + the GFO to reduce the amount of phosphates with in the system, But I don't want to rip it out right away. I understand that removing it rapidly will cause die off of coral and throw water perams out the window.

Am I going at this wrong?? Or trying to much to fast?? Do I even have the right idea here?? I'm becoming confused with all the reading, what not to do & what to do.........I've got a migrain.

Who here uses GFO?? And how do YOU use it and what are the up sides to using it for you??

P.S. To CHADFARMER: What do you know about the unit I bought today?? Any input from you??

This is all Letmegrows fault, he told me research research research reseach :lol: !!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Letmegrow]

Oh Stu, I have this bridge for sale too. I will PM you about it.

 

[StupidsReef]

It better be over the ocean with a reef in the middle!!

 

[Drunes]

You should reconsider using the product and here is why GFO is potentially an issue.

This is also a good article on the subject. PO Export

 

[StupidsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13386209#post13386209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Drunes
You should reconsider using the product and here is why GFO is potentially an issue.

This is also a good article on the subject. PO Export

Ah yes thank you, But I've already read both of these articles more than twice, plus the one's by Eric Borrman, along with many more. Bringing me to my current conflict in my situation. I'm speaking with Randy Holmes-Farley on this topic as of date.

As I've said before, when I first found this hobby, I found it interesting and quite exciting. That was in 2003, But as of the recent years I've found it to be very confusing, conflicting and not sure if anyone knows anything anymore. This hobby is more of a debate than proven evidence of what truly works and what doesn't. When asking a simple yes or no answer...........You get a debate that has some scientific values and some uncertified values and then everyone starts to argue. I've found myself at a point where, when asking for a simple answer, is pointless. I've already ordered the products, spent the money. Next I'll buy the test kits ( whether or not they really work?????) and go from there. In this feild I will learn the best way humans have learnt, through trial & erra. More over, if you want to know the answer to something, do something.

 

[Nanook]

Sounds like you are learning, Stu Now figure out why my acros are losing color in spite of phosphate level of 0.03

I would use about 3 cups in a fluidized reactor and use low flow, measure phosphates and alkalinity (sometimes drops) for a few weeks. I can test your water with my Hanna meter if you want accurate numbers.

 

[StupidsReef]

I just might have to take you up on the testing.

And for the Acros losing color........Only thing I can suggest is......give them to me for a month. I'll give them back 2 times there size. I've done that for Lonnie 2 times now with his corals. I can grow corals great, Just can't get the carpet off the rock's and sand. My turkey baster is waring out!!

 

[Nanook]

You have higher nutrients and your corals grow fast but now you are going to use GFO and limit the food and then your corals will grow slow and your corals will lose color

It is a definite crapshoot!!!!

 

[StupidsReef]

:lol: Shut up nook. Your not helping :lol: That's my delima, For example Rich gave me a chip of his orange monti cup two day's ago. I placed it on the lowest rock in the tank, sideways. So I can see the white underside, today, that white underside is now peach in color and becoming fuzzy. I don't now though if thats fast or not. But if I don't stand on top of the tank by two days it will be a tank of dark red carpet!! If I have any bullets for my 357 I'd shoot myself in the foot
I don't know what that would do for me, but I'd feel better

 

[Nanook]

Cyano usually excess nutrients and/or low flow. I have cyano in a few spots in spite of HEAVY GFO and carbon usage. If a spot is sheltered from adequate flow and/or accumulates food/detritus the cyano will grow there.

I might not need all the GFO I have been running....I am kind of confused here lately with my acros changing colors suddenly....not sure if it was the liverock, the flow changes, the GFO or the nutrients.

I think I will add a super kickbutt skimmer in addition to this Geo monstrosity and maybe cut back on the GFO. Or, can I borrow your .357 as I have bullets and two good feet Wait, I need my feet to walk 10 miles a day at work this weekend:lol:

The longer you are in the hobby the less you realize you know.

 

[StupidsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13386937#post13386937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook


The longer you are in the hobby the less you realize you know.

Darn right there.

I have no dead spots. I have to take out one of the sureflow maxijets due to the sand storms. 2 of them are keeping it flowing good. I'm not sure whats going on.

But from what I've read, I'd try backing down on the amount of GFO your using and see if that helps. A large number of people claim that after using the GFO they seen what your having take place. Even Randy holmes-Farley claim that to much GFO to fast will cuase such coral bleaching. But who knows who's right??

I'd let you borrow the .357, but after you shoot your foot, you have to let me shoot my foot. Or I'll shoot your's and then if you don't make to big of a fuss I'll let you shoot mine

 

[tall_jason79]

hold out for the cheato, maybe you can find a sweet spot stu,just a thought

 

[Nanook]

Best if I shoot your foot and you shoot mine at the same time I have a 12 gauge shotgun to shoot yours with:lol: You can use the 357 on my foot.

 

[Drunes]

Stu I have the dual set up from Bulk. I don't use the GFO primary because of the calcium drain.

I would rather use micro alge for PO removal because I have had success with that over other options.

The only time I run the unit is for the carbon as a back up plan.

Though I am looking forward to hearing how it works out.

 

[Nanook]

I never heard of GFO draining calcium

 

[Letmegrow]

It will deplete Alk, as far as I understand, not calcium.

 

[Letmegrow]

.....and I think you mean Macro algae. Not Mircro.

 

[StupidsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13387653#post13387653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Letmegrow
It will deplete Alk, as far as I understand, not calcium.

Humm....Ok. I never heard the calcium issue either, and Randy didn't mention it depleting the Alk?? He just informed me to use the least amount I can and not use it all the time. Mainly as a back up if I have an outbreak.

I will give the Cheato time to see what it can do. I had run cheato in the sump before the FERN outbreak, but had to pitch it during that clean up. I never had much, but looking back on it, I never had canyo either. After the culupra issue I was looking for a different way to remove phosphates in fear of the Fern outbreak again, I didn't want to even use Cheato. Rich1972 talked me into giving it another shot thought.


Ummm......Nook, I don't want to completly remove my foot!! A 12 gauge shot gun :eek2: YIKES!! At the time I was thinking more like a wound?? An you are a nurse......So who better than you to be around when a .357 slug rip's through the foot :lol: . I'm already stupid, I don't want to be the "stupid gimp" :lol: But If you want, I'll still shoot your foot

 

[frenchie]

what about that stuff like phosbuster pro by carib sea, i won a bottle of that stuff from aquatic treasures with bottles of other additives does that stuff really work for phosphates.

 

[frenchie]

i found a bigtime algae muncher for my tank though for 25 bucks, clown tang i got is going nuts eating in my tank 5 days and no ick its awesome i only had luck with yellow tangs, scopas and sailfin tangs anything else got ick and died.