removed GFO

marinelife

marinelife

Active member
I installed a GFO reactor a few months ago. Today I took it out of the loop.
I had the GFO Reactor being feed from the return pump and going into a tank that houses two starfish.
I noticed in the starfish tank I am getting alot of different algae growth.
I am trying to figure out what is going on with the GFO Reactor that is causing algae to grow after it.
I did a water change and will run without the GFO again and see what happens.
 
How often are you changing the media on your GFO and what media are you using? Also what is the flow rate (about) on the GFO?
 
GFO absorbs PO4, once fully saturated it starts leaching it back into the water. You should be able to see that by measuring the output of the GFO reactor with some more or less precise PO4 kit. Personally, I never let my GFO media sit in the reactor for more than 2 weeks. My PO4 reading is 0.03-0.04, after a couple of weeks I start seeing PO4 creeping up. No fuge.
 
+1

My issues require every 2 days right now. I read the output and know it is time to change when the P04 starts to climb again.
 
Algae needs nitrates, phosphates and light to grow. The primary supply for phosphates is the food you put in the tank (both eaten and excess). The nitrate is from food that is eaten, becomes detritus and then processed by LR bacteria from amonia to nitrite and finally nitrate. Over feeding is one of the biggest reasons for algae growth.

I see that you don't have a refugium. A good one with good macro algae growth can help remove both nitrates and phosphates. You could also start a colorful macro algae in a corner of your DT and prune it as it gets too big. I only run GFO when DT algae starts to grow, which is almost never. Also having a good clean up crew (incuding a fish that likes algae like a tang or a blenny) can help alot.
 
I do have a refugium, My DT is filled with tangs so I can not have macro algae in there.
This is just a tank that was added to house a few starfish my daughter wanted that my Angels tried to eat. I was/am confused as to why that tank is the only one with issues. It is feed from the GFO Reactor. The Phosphates in the display are around .05 or so.

I have 375 Gallon full SPS Reef, this is an attached 24 gallon tank.

I thought Bulk said this resin does not leach out phosphates?
 
Would be hard to change out the media every 2 days or even 2 weeks. I am using 6 cups at a time!
 
Last edited:
Are you confusing DI resin and GFO by a chance? GFO is just granules and it does leach once saturated. Doesn't matter if it's high capacity or regular, it's just a matter of how fast it gets saturated...

Edit: I suppose there is a difference between leaching stuff from the start and leaching once saturated. It's quite possible BRS's GFO doesn't leach anything when new, but I don't believe there is any GFO brand for this hobby which would not leach PO4 once saturated...
 
bulk Granular Ferric Oxide at Premium Aquatics Also adsorbs silicate, and does not release adsorbed substances
 
is the flow in the starfish tank significantly slower than the other discrete bodies of water? detritus will settle in the slowest flow body of water. this could be your nutrient sink. "refugiums" do not outcompete algae in the rest of the system for nutrients. they outcompete the rest of the system for detritus. if you are getting algae in the starfish tank, then i would bet that this area is trying to become your new "refugium".

G~
 
I clean any detritus off the bottom of the sumps every month. I do not ever see much sitting on the bottom of the tanks. I have small powerheads to keep the water moving around in them.

The starfish tank is feed from the GFO Reactor that gets its water from the return pump of the display.
The Starfish tank then drains back to the main tanks sump.
 
Hey - what part of Dayton? I'm from there. My guess as to you problem is that there is a local phosphate or even a nitrate sink in the starfish tank. It may be the rock or sand you used or maybe your daughter is 'feeding" the starfish way too much.
 
I am up in Union, about 20 minutes north.
One piece of rock in the tank maybe causing a issue I guess, I do not allow her to feed the tank, I do not even feed this tank. Something is causing phosphates in that tank only which is odd since they are all connected. I can only guess its coming out of the reactor.
 
I know the area. I'd have to suspect the phosphate is coming from the rock. Reactors just don't leach phosphate if you're using GFO. If you were using an aluminum oxide based phosphate sponge product I would suspect the reactor.
 
I'm from Huber Heights, but went to a Vo-tech with some guys from your area. I'd have to suspect the phosphate is coming from the rock. Reactors just don't leach phosphate if you're using GFO. If you were using an aluminum oxide based phosphate sponge product I would suspect the reactor.
 
I may remove the rock latter. I currently an gonna just try without the GFO reactor and see what that does,

Huber is not far from me, our local club has several members from Huber.
 
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