To run gfo or not?

[AriMiko43]

Just curious how many people run gfo on their sps tanks? I have been running gfo on my system for quite some time and now that I am coming off it slowly I am noticing more sps growth over short periods of time.

 

[ReefKeeper64]

it all depends on your PO4 level. Have you tested lately?

 

[AriMiko43]

Yes, po4 is low. At one point it was to low and I was having a tough time keeping sps alive. I was overdosing my gfo and not feeding the fish enough and stripping the water of all nutrients. Ever since I took half the gfo out my tank bounced back quickly and all sps colored up and started growing again. I believe its not great to always have nitrates and phosphates at 0.

 

[triggreef]

Mine are at .04 with GFO and I plan to keep them right about there.

 

[REEF SMAC]

There is really no reason to waste your money on GFO if your PO4 is already low.

If your PO4 is too low, then your GFO is probably doing more harm than good.

 

[mchammer]

What is too low. I just checked my PO4 with a Hanna meter and it reads .07. Is that too low or too high?

 

[daido]

0.02 is good

 

[downbeach]

What is too low. I just checked my PO4 with a Hanna meter and it reads .07. Is that too low or too high?

R H-F suggests that it would be best below .03.

Here's the article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

 

[a.browning]

I run a cup of GFO on my 75g that I change out every month-2 months. However, I have a high bioload and I feed heavily, each tank will be different with how it reacts to GFO. If your phosphates are still low, even though you're coming off of using GFO, then perhaps your system is fine without GFO.

 

[mchammer]

good read thank you downbeach.

 

[MammothReefer]

I shoot for .03 and lower but usually find myself around 0. I'd rather run it low then risk it creeping up. Plus I'm going to run carbon and I have a duel chamber reactor so outside of the cost (which isn't that much since I change it every 3 months or so). I don't see any reason not to run it.