GFO while cycling?

jonnyeatworld · 07/07/2013, 08:34 AM

I'm in the process of cycling my new tank. It seems that my dry rock from BRS is leeching some phosphates. My hanna checker read .25, so i know that is high. My question is, would running GFO in a reactor to reduce that phosphate have any negative effects to my cycle?

MondoBongo · 07/07/2013, 08:52 AM

no, it shouldn't have any negative impact on the cycle.

a lot of people will pre-cycle rock with GFO or other phosphate removers to reduce the amount the rocks leech before even getting them in to the tank to cycle.

i would start running it and try to nip it in the bud before you start running your lights and it fuels a large algae bloom.

thegrun · 07/07/2013, 03:26 PM

+1, run it with GFO

bnumair · 07/07/2013, 03:29 PM

run it.

wbrinker · 07/07/2013, 03:38 PM

I've heard that you can GFO and carbon in the same reactor at 1/2 the amounts, is this ok?

bnumair · 07/07/2013, 03:48 PM

u can but i would suggest against it. due to few reasons.
carbon and gfo require different flow rates.
carbon tends to last twice as long as gfo thus changing them at expiration of gfo will be wasting money for carbon.

wbrinker · 07/07/2013, 08:53 PM

Ok, makes sense, what flow should I use for GFO?

Tornader · 07/07/2013, 09:05 PM

Depends on your reactor. It shouldn't tumble vigorously.

bnumair · 07/07/2013, 09:07 PM

gfo needs a fast enough flow that it tumbles on top while carbon just enough flow it makes good contact while flowing through.

ReeferGil · 07/08/2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

u can but i would suggest against it. due to few reasons.
carbon and gfo require different flow rates.
carbon tends to last twice as long as gfo thus changing them at expiration of gfo will be wasting money for carbon.

I thought GFO outlasted carbon?

bnumair · 07/08/2013, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReeferGil

I thought GFO outlasted carbon?

No way... gfo in some tanks can be exhausted in matter of few hours to days. (depending on phos levels) even in tanks under 0.1ppm phos gfo will truly be good for 3-4 weeks. carbon can continue to be efficient for longer time than gfo.

ReeferGil · 07/08/2013, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

No way... gfo in some tanks can be exhausted in matter of few hours to days. (depending on phos levels) even in tanks under 0.1ppm phos gfo will truly be good for 3-4 weeks. carbon can continue to be efficient for longer time than gfo.

Wow, I had it backwards! Glad I checked, thanks!

bnumair · 07/08/2013, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReeferGil

Wow, I had it backwards! Glad I checked, thanks!

lol ur welcome.

wbrinker · 07/08/2013, 10:37 AM

Interesting thread, when I spoke to BRS they running both together was ok as long as you swapped both every 2-3 weeks, sounds like that's ok, but yields wasted carbon, right.

bnumair · 07/08/2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbrinker

Interesting thread, when I spoke to BRS they running both together was ok as long as you swapped both every 2-3 weeks, sounds like that's ok, but yields wasted carbon, right.

Yes u can run them together with above started problems and wasting good carbon.

wbrinker · 07/08/2013, 11:05 AM

And a flow rate to just tumble the GFO?

Palting · 07/08/2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbrinker

And a flow rate to just tumble the GFO?

It depends on your reactor brand and model, as well as how you have the plumbing setup. I use the NextReef MR1 complete. It comes with a 160gph pump: http://www.nextreef.com/mr1reactors.html . I have the reactor sitting same level as the sump using their supplied tubing. With the reactor about half full of GFO, their pump has to run wide open (presumed 160 gph) to get the top layer to tumble gently.

I should say I "used" to use it. As the remote refugium and tank matured, the GFO reactor is no longer needed. I have t sitting on a shelf. Haven't figure out what to do with it yet.

wbrinker · 07/08/2013, 03:38 PM

You bring up a good point, when you stop using GFO and does it need to be phased out? Or can you just stop using it cold turkey?

Palting · 07/09/2013, 07:05 AM

Phosphates were reading zero, so I just took the reactor offline. Kept an eye on phosphates for the next several weeks. Stayed at zero or undetectable.

07/07/2013, 08:34 AM	#1
jonnyeatworld Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 144	GFO while cycling? I'm in the process of cycling my new tank. It seems that my dry rock from BRS is leeching some phosphates. My hanna checker read .25, so i know that is high. My question is, would running GFO in a reactor to reduce that phosphate have any negative effects to my cycle?

07/07/2013, 03:29 PM	#4
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	run it. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/07/2013, 03:48 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	u can but i would suggest against it. due to few reasons. carbon and gfo require different flow rates. carbon tends to last twice as long as gfo thus changing them at expiration of gfo will be wasting money for carbon. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/07/2013, 09:07 PM	#9
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	gfo needs a fast enough flow that it tumbles on top while carbon just enough flow it makes good contact while flowing through. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/09/2013, 07:05 AM	#19
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Phosphates were reading zero, so I just took the reactor offline. Kept an eye on phosphates for the next several weeks. Stayed at zero or undetectable. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

07/07/2013, 08:52 AM	#2
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	no, it shouldn't have any negative impact on the cycle. a lot of people will pre-cycle rock with GFO or other phosphate removers to reduce the amount the rocks leech before even getting them in to the tank to cycle. i would start running it and try to nip it in the bud before you start running your lights and it fuels a large algae bloom.

07/07/2013, 03:26 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, run it with GFO

07/07/2013, 03:38 PM	#5
wbrinker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 49	I've heard that you can GFO and carbon in the same reactor at 1/2 the amounts, is this ok?

07/07/2013, 08:53 PM	#7
wbrinker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 49	Ok, makes sense, what flow should I use for GFO?

07/07/2013, 09:05 PM	#8
Tornader Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: CA Posts: 114	Depends on your reactor. It shouldn't tumble vigorously.

07/08/2013, 10:37 AM	#14
wbrinker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 49	Interesting thread, when I spoke to BRS they running both together was ok as long as you swapped both every 2-3 weeks, sounds like that's ok, but yields wasted carbon, right.

07/08/2013, 11:05 AM	#16
wbrinker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 49	And a flow rate to just tumble the GFO?

07/08/2013, 03:38 PM	#18
wbrinker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 49	You bring up a good point, when you stop using GFO and does it need to be phased out? Or can you just stop using it cold turkey?