GFO and Carbon

[lefkonj]

What are peoples experiences with using these two pieces? I know carbon is a good thing to have somewhere in your filtration but I have never used GFO. I am purchasing a phosphate test kit to see if i really need it but wanted to get some opinions on whether or not people are using these, and how.

THanks

 

[mnat]

I think carbon is really important to run in your tank and have always had it on my tanks and my wife has had it on her tanks for over 10 years. There was a study done that shows that adding carbon in a reactor does more to drop dissolved organics than running a skimmer. I use Rox carbon from Bulk Reef Supply and have been very very happy with it and I know a bunch of other people on here who also use Rox and it really is the best.

GFO is great for phosphate absorption if you have phosphates in your water. Do you have algae or anything that would cause you to believe that you have a high phosphate problem? For SPS running GFO can be a big help but depending on your corals and bioload it may not be necessary. Again I use BRS GFO and use the mid grade pellets (only because they were sold out of the high capacity pellets when I ordered).

Here is the Carbon study I was talking about:

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/dissolved-organic-carbon-doc-uv-254-aquarium/

 

[9supratt4]

GFO I started using about a year ago or so....best stuff ever!! I had a big phosphate problem and have SPS, and this helped a lot!! I also use Bulk Reef Supply GFO. Just don't add too much as it can effect PH...BRS has a great calculator to tell you how much you should use for your tank.

Carbon....I used to run carbon, but removed it about 4 years ago and I haven't used it since. I stopped using it because my Sailfin Tang started showing HLLE and it was getting worse...I did research and found that carbon could cause it....I stopped using it and the HLLE has completely healed. I do notice that my tank water sometimes has a cloudy yellow tint to it and I know carbon would help it. Most people run carbon...I am one of a few that doesn't.

I do keep carbon on hand just in case though

 

[lefkonj]

I am getting some algae growth so I was looking to do the BRS GFO/Carbon reactor. Tank hasn't been up that long and I need to add this over the course of this week.

thanks again

 

[mnat]

The BRS dual reactor is a solid one, I ran one for a while and loved it. Order two extra plastic reactor chambers, it makes swapping them out really easy.

 

[downbeach]

I'd suggest that you get two singles and get an appropriate size pump instead of using the ball valve to throttle them back. They work best at different flow rates, slower for more contact time with the Carbon (ROX 0.8) and faster to make it tumble more with the GFO (High Capacity). Use a MJ400 for the carbon and a MJ 600 for GFO.