Signs of too much GFO

Mhay · 01/26/2014, 04:55 PM

I decided to give my boyfriend a deluxe reactor I had to run some GFO in his 29G bio cube. He just got done installing in and I asked how much GFO he used and he replied back 1 cup! I asked if that's what the BRS calculator gave him and he said no. Said he followed the directions... The only part in the directions that says anything about the amount of GFO to use is that it's max capacity is 2 cups... So I got curious and looked up how much he should use... 5 tablespoons. With using over 3 times the recommended amount what are the signs of too much being used? I know that his phosphates are going to drop and bleaching can occur but anything else?

degibson84 · 01/26/2014, 05:05 PM

I have never heard of using too much. The GFO will only absorb as much as the media can handle until it is exhausted.

maddmaxx · 01/26/2014, 06:15 PM

yes there is a thing of to much GFO. if you have more GFO then what is needed, it will strip phos quicker then it needs to, corals need some phos. so to strip it too fast and have it none detectable in a reef isnt a good thing...

degibson84 · 01/26/2014, 06:20 PM

Maybe I'm not running enough then. Mine very rarely removes phosphate. I feel like mine could be changed out everyday.

Dapg8gt · 01/26/2014, 06:31 PM

There is Def negatives to running too much. It will/can nuke your corals. It will aggressively strip all p04 out of the water column and can also drop the alkalinity.

There's a calculator for a reason and imo it's a little aggressive on the amounts for first time users. I'd say to be safe initially do less than the calculator recommends. It's easy to chart your levels and test the effluent to find the right balance for your tank.. It's not easy to bring back bleached and almost dead corals. =). And fwiw I don't even run a full cup on my 105g..

Mhay · 01/26/2014, 07:00 PM

He decided that I was right and cut back to the 5 tablespoons. He usually researches this stuff first so I was surprised he just threw in whatever sondes good. We are both new to reefing.

kikoreefer · 01/26/2014, 08:15 PM

Yup I killed corals like this before not fun

slush · 01/26/2014, 10:01 PM

I have also bleached and killed corals with to much Gfo. To much carbon can also be damaging .

Guygettnby · 01/27/2014, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

yes there is a thing of to much GFO. if you have more GFO then what is needed, it will strip phos quicker then it needs to, corals need some phos. so to strip it too fast and have it none detectable in a reef isnt a good thing...

+1

You need to start out slow and keep testing until you find an amount that works best for your current tank. There are a million different things that could affect how much you need to run. But too much is for sure a bad thing.

las · 03/29/2015, 10:28 PM

does using the manufacturers dosage on label cause a change in ALK or any other water parameter?

Tweaked · 03/30/2015, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by las

does using the manufacturers dosage on label cause a change in ALK or any other water parameter?

GFO will drop your Alk a bit. Some will poor in a couple caps of alk at each GFO change to offset this.

01/26/2014, 04:55 PM	#1
Mhay Crazy Cat Lady Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 468	Signs of too much GFO I decided to give my boyfriend a deluxe reactor I had to run some GFO in his 29G bio cube. He just got done installing in and I asked how much GFO he used and he replied back 1 cup! I asked if that's what the BRS calculator gave him and he said no. Said he followed the directions... The only part in the directions that says anything about the amount of GFO to use is that it's max capacity is 2 cups... So I got curious and looked up how much he should use... 5 tablespoons. With using over 3 times the recommended amount what are the signs of too much being used? I know that his phosphates are going to drop and bleaching can occur but anything else? __________________ Maggie Current Tank Info: Coralife Biocube 29

01/26/2014, 06:15 PM	#3
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	yes there is a thing of to much GFO. if you have more GFO then what is needed, it will strip phos quicker then it needs to, corals need some phos. so to strip it too fast and have it none detectable in a reef isnt a good thing... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

01/26/2014, 06:31 PM	#5
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	There is Def negatives to running too much. It will/can nuke your corals. It will aggressively strip all p04 out of the water column and can also drop the alkalinity. There's a calculator for a reason and imo it's a little aggressive on the amounts for first time users. I'd say to be safe initially do less than the calculator recommends. It's easy to chart your levels and test the effluent to find the right balance for your tank.. It's not easy to bring back bleached and almost dead corals. =). And fwiw I don't even run a full cup on my 105g.. __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

01/26/2014, 07:00 PM	#6
Mhay Crazy Cat Lady Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 468	He decided that I was right and cut back to the 5 tablespoons. He usually researches this stuff first so I was surprised he just threw in whatever sondes good. We are both new to reefing. __________________ Maggie Current Tank Info: Coralife Biocube 29

01/26/2014, 05:05 PM	#2
degibson84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 2,393	I have never heard of using too much. The GFO will only absorb as much as the media can handle until it is exhausted.

01/26/2014, 06:20 PM	#4
degibson84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 2,393	Maybe I'm not running enough then. Mine very rarely removes phosphate. I feel like mine could be changed out everyday.

01/26/2014, 08:15 PM	#7
kikoreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 221	Yup I killed corals like this before not fun

01/26/2014, 10:01 PM	#8
slush Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 23	I have also bleached and killed corals with to much Gfo. To much carbon can also be damaging .

03/29/2015, 10:28 PM	#10
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	does using the manufacturers dosage on label cause a change in ALK or any other water parameter?