Carbon and GFO

srt8

srt8

Member
So I'm now in the process of going dual reactor carbon and gfo rather than the bag or two of chemi pure elite laying in the sump,so I'm now running a 20 gallon sump,filter sock,skimmer,5 gallon refugium with chaeto,miniature turf scrubber.I also added a kalk reactor through my ATO a few weeks ago and I am seeing my Alk and Calcium levels stabilize and now going to be adding the dual reactors with carbon and gfo. Also am adding a tunze dual cooling fan to keep the water just a little cooler this summer. I'm hoping to be successful keeping SPS and LPS corals and fish. So hoping I'm making wise investments
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRT8 http:///t/395416/carbon-and-gfo#post_3520207
So I'm now in the process of going dual reactor carbon and gfo rather than the bag or two of chemi pure elite laying in the sump,so I'm now running a 20 gallon sump,filter sock,skimmer,5 gallon refugium with chaeto,miniature turf scrubber.I also added a kalk reactor through my ATO a few weeks ago and I am seeing my Alk and Calcium levels stabilize and now going to be adding the dual reactors with carbon and gfo. Also am adding a tunze dual cooling fan to keep the water just a little cooler this summer. I'm hoping to be successful keeping SPS and LPS corals and fish. So hoping I'm making wise investments
Hi,
If you run GFO, your macroalgae will die. Macros keep the tank water pristine because it lives on the phosphates, nitrates and ammonia...if you remove those things from the water, the macros have nothing to feed on and die...
GFO is one way to control phosphates, and macroalgae is the other way...but you can't do both at the same time. Personally, the macroalage takes care of more then the GFO reactor which is for phosphate removal only. The Carbon is a water polisher, it removes toxins and prevents coral warfare. You can run carbon and macros at the same time.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Flower is correct to a degree but also incorrect. How fast do macros work? Not as quick as GFO so they serve different needs. And yes you can run both GFOand mmacros together.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/395416/carbon-and-gfo#post_3520255
Flower is correct to a degree but also incorrect. How fast do macros work? Not as quick as GFO so they serve different needs. And yes you can run both GFOand mmacros together.
GFO killed off my macros because it starved the stuff of phosphates. You're right about how fast it works...macros take a few harvests before you really see a difference. I have a duel reactor, and that's what I used when I ran my reef, but I couldn't keep macros going so I just didn't get anymore. Now I have macros in the seahorses tank, the duel reactor is in the garage.
You could run the two together, but the macros won't last, it's unnecessary to keep both. It would be like trying to run an algae scrubber and duel reactor at the same time. I had rock and sand in my refugium, so it isn't like I opted to get rid of the refugium when I ran the reactor, after the macros died off, I just didn't replace them. All I wanted the OP to understand is that nothing is wrong if his macros bite the dust...then I also explained why I personally opted to keep macros instead. I also explained that carbon didn't affect macros at all.
LOL...I don't see how I can be right and wrong at the same time. I admit they can be run together, but not for long if the GFO does it's job, and mine was awesome.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Ok at least I know what to be aware of because right now my macros grow pretty fast, I do have a question though,how much of each gfo and carbon should I run in each canister for a 75 gallon tank ?
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Another question,my Acan receded about 1/4 of its mass and a coral skeleton is exposed, I think my hammer got it, will it grow back if conditions are right? I mean back over the exposed part? Or should I cut it off ? Sorry for all the questions and my other posts of just joking around, I really appreciate the input because I'm trying different things and learning all I can as I am fairly new in the salt side of things but this hobby has taken over and I devote a lot of time effort and money to my little 75 gallon,this hobby is very fascinating. Thanks for listening
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ahhhhh Flower the key is balance....my buddy runs both GFO and macros simultaneously with good growth. The key is the balance between the 2. I understand your point and position but also macros arent the quickest at nutrient export than GFO. You could argue between mangroves and macros.... better exporter IMHO but definitely slower. GFO is a quicker costlier alternative.
BRS would be a good source on what they recommend on the amount to use on both products. Some people do andhave overdosed and GFO can be an issue if over used just as carbon can create issues.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Flower I said right and wrong because you stated " macros will die if you use both". That statement isnt true. Just as some say a skimmer will out compete a scrubber. I find that hard to believe. They serve diffefent functions to a degree, but it all comes doen to finding the balance. The key is to ween yourself off of GFO but it's an option.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/395416/carbon-and-gfo#post_3520324
Ahhhhh Flower the key is balance....my buddy runs both GFO and macros simultaneously with good growth. The key is the balance between the 2. I understand your point and position but also macros arent the quickest at nutrient export than GFO. You could argue between mangroves and macros.... better exporter IMHO but definitely slower. GFO is a quicker costlier alternative.
BRS would be a good source on what they recommend on the amount to use on both products. Some people do andhave overdosed and GFO can be an issue if over used just as carbon can create issues.
The BRS brand is the one I have, and I used the recommended amount...
I asked why my macros were suddenly taking a dive after about a month of running the GFO, and I was told that the reactor was the reason, and gave me the explanation that I passed along. I hate it when Chaeto bites the dust, it breaks up into little pieces and gets into everything clogging the pumps.
Sigh...I hate it when I give the wrong advice, beat me with a wet noodle....so I learn something new, that can't be all bad.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
All advice is appreciated, I think every tank probably has its own personality so to speak, and we all learn as we go,it's one reason I find the hobby so intriguing.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
So I got the gfo and carbon reactors going and good news is they fit in my sump where I used to keep the chemi pure,I was afraid I would have to hang them or something and wifey would not be too happy with them hanging on the family room wall.I am hoping I see a difference in water quality and things like how fast algae grows on my glass. Shawn you are killing me with the suspense. My next tank I am going to have a fish room I hope to have everything hidden and it would just be so convienent.I also have the BRS dual reactor and am using the amount they say from their reef calculator,I'm going to watch my macro now and see if I see a decline,Thanks Flower and Acrylic for the input.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRT8 http:///t/395416/carbon-and-gfo#post_3520411
So I got the gfo and carbon reactors going and good news is they fit in my sump where I used to keep the chemi pure,I was afraid I would have to hang them or something and wifey would not be too happy with them hanging on the family room wall.I am hoping I see a difference in water quality and things like how fast algae grows on my glass. Shawn you are killing me with the suspense. My next tank I am going to have a fish room I hope to have everything hidden and it would just be so convienent.I also have the BRS dual reactor and am using the amount they say from their reef calculator,I'm going to watch my macro now and see if I see a decline,Thanks Flower and Acrylic for the input.
Sweetie,
The algae on the glass is normal, we all "erase it" off with a mag float. Your duel reactor will not get rid of that. I thought you had an algae PROBLEM, such as hair algae.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Also I was thinking the GFO would maybe help in keeping the algae off the glass by removing silicates although I know over time it will grow but mine seemed to appear one or two days after removing it unless that's considered normal. It really doesn't hurt because I do have a mag float too.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRT8 http:///t/395416/carbon-and-gfo#post_3520726
Also I was thinking the GFO would maybe help in keeping the algae off the glass by removing silicates although I know over time it will grow but mine seemed to appear one or two days after removing it unless that's considered normal. It really doesn't hurt because I do have a mag float too.
Do you have a silicate test?
No the GFO won't stop algae on the glass...as far as I know, it removes PO4 only. The only thing that slows down algae growth is less light and colder temps. I don't recommend you lower the temps below 76. Algae is normal ... we may not like it much, but the fish are happier with it, and we use a CUC (Clean Up Crew = snails, crabs, serpent stars) to keep everything but the front glass clean.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Yes you are right the cuc snails love it and its not anything a few wipes with the magnet won't erase,I do have a question though,do you notice a brownish algae grow on the back glass over time if you don't clean it? I mean it's not hair algae or anything it's sort of brownish green and I sometimes let the back glass go for awhile before cleaning it. I do have a lot of coraline growing but not as much as I would like but it is slowly spreading.
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Ok,thanks Shawn. I'm still in my planning stage on how and where I'm going to put a bigger tank. Definitely would like a fish room though.
 
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