GFO questions

cccapt · 11/07/2007, 03:06 PM

What's the recommended starting dosage for gfo? I've read anywhere from 1gram/gallon to 1 tablespoon/25 gallons. Pretty big difference there.

Also, if I'm dosing for 75 gallons and only use 3 tablespoons, how does that work in a reactor? That's not even enough to really cover the bottom. Even with real low flow, seems like it would channel out that small amount and not be very effective.

bertoni · 11/07/2007, 03:08 PM

If the tank has stony corals, I'd suggest starting with about half the recommended dose. Which exact product is being used? I use about a cup or so for a 29g, but the systems have no sensitive corals, and I started out a bit smaller.

cccapt · 11/07/2007, 03:15 PM

Drs F&S PhosPure http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...3&pcatid=13963
Isn't this the same as the stuff TwoPartSolution sells?
I do have mostly SPS which is why I'm unsure of the dosage. If they are the same product, dosing instructions are not close.

bertoni · 11/07/2007, 03:18 PM

In all honesty, I'd start with 3 tbsp, watch for a few days, and then add more. Losing corals isn't fun.

cccapt · 11/07/2007, 03:25 PM

OK, my package should be home when I get there (is it 5 PM yet so I can leave...lol?). I'll give the 3 tbsp's a shot and watch carefully.
While I don't have an algea problem per say, I have live rock thats been in my tank for close to 20 years which I'm sure has some phosphate stored in it.

Thanks for the quick replies

bertoni · 11/07/2007, 03:33 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

rigleautomotive · 11/07/2007, 03:39 PM

cccapt be careful,if you are not having a phosphate problem,i would use caution.on two occasions i tried phosar and another brand ,and both times i noticed poor polyp extension and a rust colored tint to my water and some of the rock.both times i discontinued use and the problem went away.i know alot of people are using it with favorable results,but not for me.

cccapt · 11/07/2007, 03:49 PM

Thnaks Dan. I'm going to be really careful and watch. Don't want those nice frags I got from you going south.

rigleautomotive · 11/07/2007, 03:51 PM

if you are going to use it,rinse it real good.

bertoni · 11/07/2007, 04:14 PM

A rust color in the water could be caused by too much flow through the reactor, or not enough rinsing. I am careful on both fronts.

a2fire2i · 11/07/2007, 04:31 PM

Jon,
I use the Phoshar HC in the Phosban 150. It suggest using 1 tbs per 20 gallons, but what would you recommend for a 120 with close to 140 gallons of water?

bertoni · 11/07/2007, 04:40 PM

I'm not familiar with that product. Maybe Boomer or someone with some experience can help. I'd probably look at the recommendations on the product, and slowly ramp up. What's the phosphate level now?

Billybeau1 · 11/08/2007, 01:05 AM

Corey, use total water volume. 140 gal would be 7 tbs.

I've used the PhoSar HC and using a little more than recommended is not a problem.

The important thing is to rinse it real good before use.

dwl · 11/08/2007, 11:48 PM

stupid questoin I know, but do you rinse this in regular tap water, or do you use RO/DI to rinse?
Thanks.

benf · 11/09/2007, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwl
stupid questoin I know, but do you rinse this in regular tap water, or do you use RO/DI to rinse?
Thanks.

Not sure if others do this, i simply hook it up as normal, and have it drain into a bucket for a couple minutes til it runs clear, then position the outlet tube into my filter sock.

a2fire2i · 11/09/2007, 06:12 AM

OK...thanks Jon!

Quote:

Originally posted by dwl
stupid questoin I know, but do you rinse this in regular tap water, or do you use RO/DI to rinse?
Thanks.

I put mine in a fine mesh bag and just rinse with ro water before i put it in my reactor.

cccapt · 11/09/2007, 10:32 AM

I put mine in a stainless steel salad bowl, put it under the faucet and rinsed it for about 10 mins before I didn't get a rust color in the water.

About the reactor question. Right now I have it in a mesh bag in a pretty high flow area of my sump. It's getting pretty good contact. Looking at the PhosBan reactor, it's 4 1/2" diameter? I'm only using 3 tbsp's and I doubt that will even cover the bottom. How would that work?
I have an empty clear DI cartridge that's only about 2" diameter. Even tho this wouldn't flow like the reactor...in the top and back out the top, would this work if I plumbed a small pump into the bottom of the DI cart and had the top for the outlet?

11/07/2007, 03:06 PM	#1
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	GFO questions What's the recommended starting dosage for gfo? I've read anywhere from 1gram/gallon to 1 tablespoon/25 gallons. Pretty big difference there. Also, if I'm dosing for 75 gallons and only use 3 tablespoons, how does that work in a reactor? That's not even enough to really cover the bottom. Even with real low flow, seems like it would channel out that small amount and not be very effective.

11/07/2007, 03:08 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the tank has stony corals, I'd suggest starting with about half the recommended dose. Which exact product is being used? I use about a cup or so for a 29g, but the systems have no sensitive corals, and I started out a bit smaller. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2007, 03:15 PM	#3
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	Drs F&S PhosPure http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...3&pcatid=13963 Isn't this the same as the stuff TwoPartSolution sells? I do have mostly SPS which is why I'm unsure of the dosage. If they are the same product, dosing instructions are not close. __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef

11/07/2007, 03:18 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	In all honesty, I'd start with 3 tbsp, watch for a few days, and then add more. Losing corals isn't fun. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2007, 03:25 PM	#5
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	OK, my package should be home when I get there (is it 5 PM yet so I can leave...lol?). I'll give the 3 tbsp's a shot and watch carefully. While I don't have an algea problem per say, I have live rock thats been in my tank for close to 20 years which I'm sure has some phosphate stored in it. Thanks for the quick replies __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef

11/07/2007, 03:33 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2007, 03:39 PM	#7
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	cccapt be careful,if you are not having a phosphate problem,i would use caution.on two occasions i tried phosar and another brand ,and both times i noticed poor polyp extension and a rust colored tint to my water and some of the rock.both times i discontinued use and the problem went away.i know alot of people are using it with favorable results,but not for me. __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

11/07/2007, 03:49 PM	#8
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	Thnaks Dan. I'm going to be really careful and watch. Don't want those nice frags I got from you going south. __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef

11/07/2007, 03:51 PM	#9
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	if you are going to use it,rinse it real good. __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

11/07/2007, 04:14 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A rust color in the water could be caused by too much flow through the reactor, or not enough rinsing. I am careful on both fronts. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2007, 04:31 PM	#11
a2fire2i Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 1,964	Jon, I use the Phoshar HC in the Phosban 150. It suggest using 1 tbs per 20 gallons, but what would you recommend for a 120 with close to 140 gallons of water? __________________ Corey Current Tank Info: 120 Mostly SPS Reef

11/07/2007, 04:40 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm not familiar with that product. Maybe Boomer or someone with some experience can help. I'd probably look at the recommendations on the product, and slowly ramp up. What's the phosphate level now? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/08/2007, 01:05 AM	#13
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Corey, use total water volume. 140 gal would be 7 tbs. I've used the PhoSar HC and using a little more than recommended is not a problem. The important thing is to rinse it real good before use.

11/08/2007, 11:48 PM	#14
dwl Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: mission viejo Posts: 524	stupid questoin I know, but do you rinse this in regular tap water, or do you use RO/DI to rinse? Thanks.

11/09/2007, 10:32 AM	#17
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	I put mine in a stainless steel salad bowl, put it under the faucet and rinsed it for about 10 mins before I didn't get a rust color in the water. About the reactor question. Right now I have it in a mesh bag in a pretty high flow area of my sump. It's getting pretty good contact. Looking at the PhosBan reactor, it's 4 1/2" diameter? I'm only using 3 tbsp's and I doubt that will even cover the bottom. How would that work? I have an empty clear DI cartridge that's only about 2" diameter. Even tho this wouldn't flow like the reactor...in the top and back out the top, would this work if I plumbed a small pump into the bottom of the DI cart and had the top for the outlet? __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef