Help!!

Luwe2008 · 12/01/2011, 01:40 PM

So I noticed today that my phosban reactor somehow releases about 1/4 of my gfo into the tank. I put in the gfo around 2 months ago..
Id try to take it out but im running late and want to know if this will cause any negative affects??
What should I do?!?!

Thanks Guys

Chris27 · 12/01/2011, 01:47 PM

Blow it off any coral / critters that are in there, and you'll be fine for a short time. You'll still want to get it out of there though.

danil · 12/01/2011, 01:55 PM

Don't panic. GFO is not harmful to your reef by itself. Fist stop leaking GFO (bag or reactor). Put some mechanical filtration in place (floss, filter sock), run your skimmer on wet side. You should watch for calcium precipitation. It might kick in with the release of GFO (water will get cloudy). If that happens keep your eyes on alkalinity/ph swing.
Most likely your rocks and sides get covered with brown dust from GFO especially if you have some sort algae growing it will stick to it. When water get clear just blow it off and skim/sock out. By itself its not really harmful but any alkalinity swing could be - so watch closely your water parameters.

Luwe2008 · 12/01/2011, 09:17 PM

Thanks guys! The thing is though that it's not the dust. It's the actual pellets that made their way into the tank. They're 2 months old. Will they still cause an alk swing?

Luwe2008 · 12/01/2011, 09:18 PM

By 2 months old I mean they were running for about 2 months.

Luwe2008 · 12/01/2011, 10:54 PM

I got as much out as I could but a lot of it got mixed in with the sand. Do you guys think that this will be a problem?

MarineSniper · 12/01/2011, 11:37 PM

Highly doubtful that it will cause a problem if it has been running in your reactor for 2 months. That's a pretty long time for that media

Don't panic...that media is getting FAR less exposure laying at the bottom of your tank than it was in the reactor, with a couple hundred gph running around it. A little unsightly but it's not going to cause any damage, laying on the bottom

Luwe2008 · 12/02/2011, 07:53 AM

Thanks guys for being so helpful!

Uncle Salty 05 · 12/02/2011, 09:36 AM

I would take a turkey baster and remove as much as possible.
GFO is iron - iron fuels algae, this is why I do not run GFO.
My refugium does a better job and doesn't cause problems like this one.

12/01/2011, 01:40 PM	#1
Luwe2008 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Posts: 751	Help!! So I noticed today that my phosban reactor somehow releases about 1/4 of my gfo into the tank. I put in the gfo around 2 months ago.. Id try to take it out but im running late and want to know if this will cause any negative affects?? What should I do?!?! Thanks Guys

12/01/2011, 01:47 PM	#2
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Blow it off any coral / critters that are in there, and you'll be fine for a short time. You'll still want to get it out of there though. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

12/02/2011, 09:36 AM	#9
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I would take a turkey baster and remove as much as possible. GFO is iron - iron fuels algae, this is why I do not run GFO. My refugium does a better job and doesn't cause problems like this one. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

12/01/2011, 01:55 PM	#3
danil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 935	Don't panic. GFO is not harmful to your reef by itself. Fist stop leaking GFO (bag or reactor). Put some mechanical filtration in place (floss, filter sock), run your skimmer on wet side. You should watch for calcium precipitation. It might kick in with the release of GFO (water will get cloudy). If that happens keep your eyes on alkalinity/ph swing. Most likely your rocks and sides get covered with brown dust from GFO especially if you have some sort algae growing it will stick to it. When water get clear just blow it off and skim/sock out. By itself its not really harmful but any alkalinity swing could be - so watch closely your water parameters.

12/01/2011, 09:17 PM	#4
Luwe2008 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Posts: 751	Thanks guys! The thing is though that it's not the dust. It's the actual pellets that made their way into the tank. They're 2 months old. Will they still cause an alk swing?

12/01/2011, 09:18 PM	#5
Luwe2008 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Posts: 751	By 2 months old I mean they were running for about 2 months.

12/01/2011, 10:54 PM	#6
Luwe2008 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Posts: 751	I got as much out as I could but a lot of it got mixed in with the sand. Do you guys think that this will be a problem?

12/01/2011, 11:37 PM	#7
MarineSniper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 554	Highly doubtful that it will cause a problem if it has been running in your reactor for 2 months. That's a pretty long time for that media Don't panic...that media is getting FAR less exposure laying at the bottom of your tank than it was in the reactor, with a couple hundred gph running around it. A little unsightly but it's not going to cause any damage, laying on the bottom

12/02/2011, 07:53 AM	#8
Luwe2008 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Posts: 751	Thanks guys for being so helpful!