GFO for FOWLR?

mitchrapp · 05/06/2015, 11:53 AM

Tank has been cycling for almost 12 weeks and is close to being complete. I can clear 2 ppm ammonium chloride within 24 hours and nitrites within 48 hours. I'm starting to get GHA on my rocks. I started with brs ecosaver rock and dry sand. Hanna checker had 0.03 ppm phosphate. I scrubbed the GHA off the rocks and did a 50% water change a few days ago. The phosphates are now at 0.00 ppm and nitrates are at around 10-25 ppm. The GHA has come back on my rocks, and am wondering if I should run a GFO reactor. It will be a FOWLR. I have a 75 gallon tank and roughly 20 gallons in sump. If I do get a gfo reactor, I was thinking of the 2 fishes phosban 150. Which pump should I get with that? I would prefer the quietest pump possible.

jn062181 · 05/06/2015, 11:55 AM

Are you running a refugium in your sump? I would recommend trying that first before going with GFO. If you do end up taking the GFO route, then you don't have to go fancy on the pump. Something like a Maxijet or possibly even a Minijet would work well.

Kyle461 · 05/06/2015, 12:01 PM

I added a Lawnmower Blenny and he demolished the GHA. I have the reactor running GFO to prevent possible regrowth and it has worked like a charm! I'm currently dealing with GHA on the sand due to the Blenny's poop but some water changes should take care of that. He had a lot to eat thus he produced a lot of poo.....

Sk8r · 05/06/2015, 12:04 PM

First, a good skimmer. GFO is not out of line, however, on a fish-only: plants love phosphate, but fish and corals don't. Your tank will be a happier environment for your fish with reef-quality water.

ReefsandGeeks · 05/06/2015, 12:14 PM

I wonder if running double or tripple GFO as compared to a Reef tank would be okay for a FOWLR...It could possibly lower the phosphates extra low so that the GHA and other algaes would not be able to grow, and you don't have to worry about coral going downhill from lack of phosphate.

Ways to reduce algea would be reduce feeding (phosphate into your system), increase skimming (take phosphate out), GFO (take phosphate out), or CUC/fish that graze on algea. A good skimmer is probably my first choice.

Also, youre tank is pretty new at 12 weeks, and you're going to go through "the uglies" of algae as your tank matures. I'd sugest not getting too frusterated about algae growth initialy, especialy as a FOWLR.

mitchrapp · 05/06/2015, 12:44 PM

I have a RLSS r6i skimmer, which is supposed to be decent, but am not pulling too much gunk out.

If I do go for a GFO reactor, what flow rate would I need and what is the quietest pump I can get for it?

jn062181 · 05/06/2015, 12:45 PM

If you're still cycling and don't have fish/fish food in the tank yet, then that's not unexpected for the skimmer. It will skim more out once there's a significant bioload in the tank.

05/06/2015, 11:53 AM	#1
mitchrapp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 297	GFO for FOWLR? Tank has been cycling for almost 12 weeks and is close to being complete. I can clear 2 ppm ammonium chloride within 24 hours and nitrites within 48 hours. I'm starting to get GHA on my rocks. I started with brs ecosaver rock and dry sand. Hanna checker had 0.03 ppm phosphate. I scrubbed the GHA off the rocks and did a 50% water change a few days ago. The phosphates are now at 0.00 ppm and nitrates are at around 10-25 ppm. The GHA has come back on my rocks, and am wondering if I should run a GFO reactor. It will be a FOWLR. I have a 75 gallon tank and roughly 20 gallons in sump. If I do get a gfo reactor, I was thinking of the 2 fishes phosban 150. Which pump should I get with that? I would prefer the quietest pump possible.

05/06/2015, 11:55 AM	#2
jn062181 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 21	Are you running a refugium in your sump? I would recommend trying that first before going with GFO. If you do end up taking the GFO route, then you don't have to go fancy on the pump. Something like a Maxijet or possibly even a Minijet would work well. __________________ Deep Blue 30G Shallow RR \| Custom King Sump \| Ecotech Radion XR15w Pro \| Maxspect Gyre XF-130

05/06/2015, 12:01 PM	#3
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	I added a Lawnmower Blenny and he demolished the GHA. I have the reactor running GFO to prevent possible regrowth and it has worked like a charm! I'm currently dealing with GHA on the sand due to the Blenny's poop but some water changes should take care of that. He had a lot to eat thus he produced a lot of poo..... __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

05/06/2015, 12:04 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	First, a good skimmer. GFO is not out of line, however, on a fish-only: plants love phosphate, but fish and corals don't. Your tank will be a happier environment for your fish with reef-quality water. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/06/2015, 12:45 PM	#7
jn062181 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 21	If you're still cycling and don't have fish/fish food in the tank yet, then that's not unexpected for the skimmer. It will skim more out once there's a significant bioload in the tank. __________________ Deep Blue 30G Shallow RR \| Custom King Sump \| Ecotech Radion XR15w Pro \| Maxspect Gyre XF-130

05/06/2015, 12:14 PM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I wonder if running double or tripple GFO as compared to a Reef tank would be okay for a FOWLR...It could possibly lower the phosphates extra low so that the GHA and other algaes would not be able to grow, and you don't have to worry about coral going downhill from lack of phosphate. Ways to reduce algea would be reduce feeding (phosphate into your system), increase skimming (take phosphate out), GFO (take phosphate out), or CUC/fish that graze on algea. A good skimmer is probably my first choice. Also, youre tank is pretty new at 12 weeks, and you're going to go through "the uglies" of algae as your tank matures. I'd sugest not getting too frusterated about algae growth initialy, especialy as a FOWLR.

05/06/2015, 12:44 PM	#6
mitchrapp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 297	I have a RLSS r6i skimmer, which is supposed to be decent, but am not pulling too much gunk out. If I do go for a GFO reactor, what flow rate would I need and what is the quietest pump I can get for it?