GFO will it work in a canister filter...?

[livingcorals]

I have a cascade filter just sitting with its built in 2 stage filter for medias.
I'm just wondering if anyone out there has used GFO in it and had any issues to worry about.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by livingcorals

I have a cascade filter just sitting with its built in 2 stage filter for medias.
I'm just wondering if anyone out there has used GFO in it and had any issues to worry about.

In my experience it's not a good idea as GFO needs to tumble in a fluidized reactor. GFO will become packed down and will soon turn into a solid brick in your canister filter. GFO needs to tumble and "fluidize" in a chamber in order to work correctly.

Marc

[livingcorals]

great thank you. The more I checked up I see many people stating it clogs.

[sjm817]

If you want to run it in a canister filter, mix GFO and GAC together. This will keep it from caking up.

[Tigé21v]

Originally Posted by sjm817

If you want to run it in a canister filter, mix GFO and GAC together. This will keep it from caking up.

Did this for a long time. Worked well for me.

[JeF4y]

Never thought of mixing them, but run a bag of GFO and a bag of GAC in my canister. Each water change (3 weeks) I replace about 1/3 of the GAC and all of the GFO.

So for those that mix them, do you just replace all at once? No issues doing that??

[Marc]

Originally Posted by JeF4y

Never thought of mixing them, but run a bag of GFO and a bag of GAC in my canister. Each water change (3 weeks) I replace about 1/3 of the GAC and all of the GFO.

So for those that mix them, do you just replace all at once? No issues doing that??

What most people forget is that running GFO mixed with carbon is defeating the purpose. Carbon contains PO4 and mixing it with GFO reduces the effectiveness of the GFO. I don't run carbon anymore as there is really no benefit. If you are using carbon to absorb the yellow dissolved organics in your system, then your skimmer may be to small for the bioload. But what most people do not know is that GFO absorbs DOC's in the water as well as PO4. So your killing to birds with one stone. GFO does not absorb valuable trace elements as carbon would as well. So just double the amount of GFO in place of carbon in a fludized chamber.

Marc

[sjm817]

That's not true. Any decent GAC contains very small amount of PO4 and is insignificant. Far less than what you add when feeding. I also question the comment about GAC removing trace elements. These topics have all been covered in great detail by people a lot smarter than I (Randy, Boomer) in the chemistry forum. You can go there and see some very long detailed discussions about these subjects.

Yes, you have to replace both at once. That is the downside of mixing. You can typically run GAC for a month or so, so dont use more GFO than you need to last that long.

[Marc]

Running GAC removes iodine and vitamins that rob your fish and corals of vital trace elements. Done. I used carbon for a year on my FOWLR system and my Emperor Angel came down with HLLE. The HLLE started up from a lack of iodine in the system. Carbon absobed it as well as other vitamins and boom came down HLLE. After I discontinued the carbon, the HLLE started to reverse itself and my emperor is still recovering. Also each time I used carbon, I had a diatom algae outbreak! I hate the stuff and have never looked back. I use rowaphos and GFO from bulk reef supply and thats all I need. The only uses I would choose carbon for is to remove medications from my hospital tank, or for excess ozone from my protein skimmer.

Marc

[sjm817]

HLLE is not fully understood. One theory is that the dust from GAC can cause this. This is why it must be rinsed well and not allowed to tumble. I have yet to see any study that has determined what the cause of it actually is. Never seen anything about the lack of iodine having anything to do with it.

Many people run GAC successfully and rely on its abilities to maintain a healthy tank.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by sjm817

HLLE is not fully understood. One theory is that the dust from GAC can cause this. This is why it must be rinsed well and not allowed to tumble. I have yet to see any study that has determined what the cause of it actually is. Never seen anything about the lack of iodine having anything to do with it.

Many people run GAC successfully and rely on its abilities to maintain a healthy tank.

I believe that high water temperatures as well as high nitrates can cause it as well. My imperator developed it in the summer. My temp rises to 84 degrees in the summer and even my chiller can catch up.

Marc