Who is running a GFO reactor?

[nam2212]

So I have come to the point that I am going to break down the tank and get out of the hobby if I can't get rid of the hair algae in my tank. I think the last option I am willing to try is a GFO reactor. Who is running one and what are your experiences?

 

[jbonez]

i am, with brs h.c gfo

 

[jbonez]

i have no hair algae also i have a buddy that got a big seahare and it eat all his hair algae..

 

[Rudolph]

I have the TLF reactor that is inexpensive and a MJ1200 pushing it along with another TLF with carbon on both of my tanks. I have had episoides with hair algae in the past, but as long as I make my bi-monthly water changes and change my GFO it stays away. I try to change the GFO every 4-6 weeks, but will stretch it is things are looking good (glass algae, any on the sand, etc.). Of course, since you are having issues, you will need to really ramp all that up until you are stable (like change water and GFO weekly).

So, I am a fan of the GFO in a reactor. I know some say they get away with throwing some in a bag and dropping it in the sump, but for me that is too passive and I think the circulation makes a big difference.

I cannor remember, but are you running a good skimmer too? I find that if I clean mine more frequent (2x a week) it is more effective. Once it gets to a certain point (really black in the cone, its production really slows down). I get lazy and frequently fall back to the once a week change, but as long as there is no hair algae I don't sweat the load.

But, those are my primary three factors (skimmer, GFO and water changes) that keeps everything running smoothly for me.

Most of us have been where you are today, so try to hang in there. Once you have it all leveled out and stick to at least a minimum plan, it gets much easier (and more fun).

 

[altolamprologus]

I had really bad hair algae in one of my tanks that wouldn't go away no matter what I did. So I added a longspine urchin (any urchin will do, I just already had this one in another tank) and a GFO reactor. After the urchin ate everything, I put him back in his original tank and the reactor has kept phosphate low enough that the hair algae hasn't shown even the slightest hint of coming back. I highly recommend getting one

 

[nam2212]

I have the TLF reactor that is inexpensive and a MJ1200 pushing it along with another TLF with carbon on both of my tanks. I have had episoides with hair algae in the past, but as long as I make my bi-monthly water changes and change my GFO it stays away. I try to change the GFO every 4-6 weeks, but will stretch it is things are looking good (glass algae, any on the sand, etc.). Of course, since you are having issues, you will need to really ramp all that up until you are stable (like change water and GFO weekly).

So, I am a fan of the GFO in a reactor. I know some say they get away with throwing some in a bag and dropping it in the sump, but for me that is too passive and I think the circulation makes a big difference.

I cannor remember, but are you running a good skimmer too? I find that if I clean mine more frequent (2x a week) it is more effective. Once it gets to a certain point (really black in the cone, its production really slows down). I get lazy and frequently fall back to the once a week change, but as long as there is no hair algae I don't sweat the load.

But, those are my primary three factors (skimmer, GFO and water changes) that keeps everything running smoothly for me.

Most of us have been where you are today, so try to hang in there. Once you have it all leveled out and stick to at least a minimum plan, it gets much easier (and more fun).

I change about 1/3 the water volume every week. I am running a Tunze Nano DOC skimmer that seems to work really well. It pulls out some nasty stuff. I went ahead and got the small Phosban reactor from Memfish. I am going to hook it up and see if it helps. I am also considering adding more flow directly to the rockwork. The algae seems to grow much more in the spots with lower flow.

 

[Rudolph]

Excellent. Test you tank before you start it and re-test every few days (at least once a week). It it starts back up change the GFO again. It may take a few frequent changes of the GFO, but once you have it under control it will last much longer. Also clear that skimmer as frequently as you can to maximize it (mine really slows down once the inner cone is covered).

.....fingers crossed....

 

[rocsec1]

I run a dual BRS with GFo and carbon and I am not having any problems in my tank. I have anopther tank that I am having a lot of problems with. I bought a tlf reactor to run on that tank, but haven't had tiome to set it up yet. I expect it will go a long way to cearing up the problem. I do have to say I like the design of the brs reactor better. It seems more solid and I think the tlf is going to be harder to set-up.

 

[Rudolph]

I have four TLF reactors and they are simple to set up. You have two round dispersion plates, two sponges and two tubes (one long, one short).

Connect a round dispersion plate to each tube.

Take the longer tube (with dispersion plate attached) and slide a sponge over it. Put it in the reactor

Add GFO.

Take the shorter tube (with dispersion plate attached) and slide sponge over the top. Insert it into reactor where it connects to the other tube.

You are done. If you have any doubt it you have it assembled correctly, they have a picture in the instructions. http://www.twolittlefishies.com/documents/1202405781.pdf

Once you do it once, it is then easy. I can unload, clean/rinse and reload in less then two minutes, so it is in no way hard.

That being said, the BRS model does look much more solid, but it also looks much more bulky. The TLF is designed with to stand alone or hang on the tank/sump. Since I don't have a lot of space under my tank, I like the sleaker/smaller TLF. Two hang on my sump perfectly in my larger tank and the on my frag tank they hang on the tank itself.

It I had a lot of space under my tank, I would probably go with the BRS model. They can be mounted to the wall of your stand, or simply stand alone.

 

[nam2212]

I installed the GFO reactor last night. I had to order a new pump because the one I got is WAY too strong. If I turn the ball valve and reduce flow then the pump gets really loud. I should have the new pump on Monday. It was hard to find one small enough.

 

[Rudolph]

I installed the GFO reactor last night. I had to order a new pump because the one I got is WAY too strong. If I turn the ball valve and reduce flow then the pump gets really loud. I should have the new pump on Monday. It was hard to find one small enough.

You could use a cheap plastic t connector and run one end to the reactor and the other with a small piece of tube and put the value on it and then, if needed, an elbow to point the flow to where you . You can then just use the extra to circulate in the tank.....just a thought.

You can get the plastic T's and elbows at Lowes or Home Depot or about 15 cents each or something like that....

 

[nam2212]

You could use a cheap plastic t connector and run one end to the reactor and the other with a small piece of tube and put the value on it and then, if needed, an elbow to point the flow to where you . You can then just use the extra to circulate in the tank.....just a thought.

You can get the plastic T's and elbows at Lowes or Home Depot or about 15 cents each or something like that....

My tank is a Red Sea Max 34G. It is an all in one and doesn't have room for the extra tubing. I had to rig it to attach the GFO reactor as it is.