jacobsdad09
Member
need a lil help on one how do these work and second why do i need one and thirdly should i use one?.....it seems like everything always helps just wondering how much it helps and if its worth the up keep of it?
gfo reactor and carbon education
- Thread starter jacobsdad09
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mr btldreef
Member
gfo is the, IMO, best to keep phosphates down to undetectable. it is used in a reactor to push your tank water through it in a tumbling action to remove the phosphates that your tank and food that you feed the tank produce.
carbon clears your tank water, removes toxins (from anemones etc), and removes that awful fishy smell. if used in a reactor it also will work more efficiently to polish your tank water.
as far as up keep, every 2-3 months or if i notice a rise in phosphate through my test kit, i change out my gfo. clean reactor using RO and dry it out. then just replace gfo to recommended amount. carbon is usually a little more often depending on the carbon used. i had ran carbon in bags then did carbon in the reactor. i like it better in the bags, i also have been using chemi pure.
i had used phoslock and phosban in bags in my sump, i didn't like the results. i recommend gfo in a reactor and since you have to change carbon more often.... use it in the bags. this makes it easy to replace.
i hope this helps.
carbon clears your tank water, removes toxins (from anemones etc), and removes that awful fishy smell. if used in a reactor it also will work more efficiently to polish your tank water.
as far as up keep, every 2-3 months or if i notice a rise in phosphate through my test kit, i change out my gfo. clean reactor using RO and dry it out. then just replace gfo to recommended amount. carbon is usually a little more often depending on the carbon used. i had ran carbon in bags then did carbon in the reactor. i like it better in the bags, i also have been using chemi pure.
i had used phoslock and phosban in bags in my sump, i didn't like the results. i recommend gfo in a reactor and since you have to change carbon more often.... use it in the bags. this makes it easy to replace.
i hope this helps.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Depends on your application. Describe your system and the problems you are having...
Sometimes phosphates can be dealt with by:
1. Proper feeding / minimal waste
2. Adequate mechanical filtration and replacement
3. Scheduled water changes
4. Adequate protein skimming
5. Macroalgae refugiums
6. Algae scrubbers
7. More live rock/base rock surface area
etc. etc. etc.
GFO reduces the amount of phosphate in your water column, but does not deal with the source of the phosphates. It chemically binds phosphates to the media until it's completely exhausted and needs to be replaced.
Carbon, for me, is mainly used to combat toxic substances and chemical warfare in the aquarium. Aquariums with a lot of soft corals and anemones tend to require much more carbon filtration than LPS and SPS dominated tanks. Carbon also acts like a clarifier and removes any water yellowing or discoloration, and can deodorize the tank by getting rid of fishy smells, as Mr. BTLDreef said.
They both have their place.
Sometimes phosphates can be dealt with by:
1. Proper feeding / minimal waste
2. Adequate mechanical filtration and replacement
3. Scheduled water changes
4. Adequate protein skimming
5. Macroalgae refugiums
6. Algae scrubbers
7. More live rock/base rock surface area
etc. etc. etc.
GFO reduces the amount of phosphate in your water column, but does not deal with the source of the phosphates. It chemically binds phosphates to the media until it's completely exhausted and needs to be replaced.
Carbon, for me, is mainly used to combat toxic substances and chemical warfare in the aquarium. Aquariums with a lot of soft corals and anemones tend to require much more carbon filtration than LPS and SPS dominated tanks. Carbon also acts like a clarifier and removes any water yellowing or discoloration, and can deodorize the tank by getting rid of fishy smells, as Mr. BTLDreef said.
They both have their place.