Starting Gfo?

[BPreefer]

I have a few questions for those of you running gfo. First what is your phospate at and how low do you try to drive it? How much gfo to start, full recommended dose or half? Also any signs of distress to Corals at startup? I have a 75 gallon mixed reef tank, which currently reads .09 phosphate on my Hannah checker. Where should I be headed with this?

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[Cake_Boss]

Start with half, don't shock the coral. Watch your alk, it will drop with gfo. From what I've read, 0.01-0.03ppm for sps. You know that everything else likes dirty water.

 

[BPreefer]

How long should I take to ramp up to full dose? Also thanks for the tip on Alk. Hoping to get the reactor up this week.

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[Cake_Boss]

Not sure, djkms will have to chime in. I did it in two weeks time, changed gfo about every 4 days. The checker said that was the time it took to get full. I also bought a scale from bb&b, $10, to accurately weigh the gfo.

 

[BPreefer]

Anyone else have any experience with gfo?

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[djkms]

I just did the recommended amount according to the BRS calculator. I didn't ramp it up but when I used GFO my tank at the time was recently cycled with little livestock. Sorry I can't be more help. After I brought down my PO4 after the cycle I sold my reactor.

 

[BPreefer]

I just did the recommended amount according to the BRS calculator. I didn't ramp it up but when I used GFO my tank at the time was recently cycled with little livestock. Sorry I can't be more help. After I brought down my PO4 after the cycle I sold my reactor.

What do you try to keep the phosphate level at?

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[djkms]

.02-.04

 

[BPreefer]

How do you maintain that level, without gfo now?

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[djkms]

Macro algae, vodka, vinegar.

 

[tlsrcs]

sounds like a fun night! lol but i suppose that could be used in your reef. I never really understood the point of using vodka...

 

[djkms]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

 

[tlsrcs]

Thanks ill read this

 

[SAZAMA]

I run it 24/7

 

[BPreefer]

Thank you all for your input. I thought about doing the vodka/vinegar route , but looks to hands on for me.

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[djkms]

Thank you all for your input. I thought about doing the vodka/vinegar route , but looks to hands on for me.

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It can be. When I first started dosing I was doing it by hand everyday. I just had my gmail email me reminders daily so I didnt forget.

Then I found this:

It doses throughout the day for me both vinegar and vodka.

The pumps have 3 different speeds each and can dose by the drop and second. I test its accuracy weekly (really need to make sure not to overdose carbon) and it has not been off in the least bit since I got it a couple months ago.

I found out about the pump here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1938900

Its the only pump I could find that can dose in such small amounts besides hospital pumps.

I bought it here for $150:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-Magi...199?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f13affc87

definitely worth the investment for those who like to automate and or have daily dosing regimes. It feels kind of cheap and is built kind of cheap but it sure does perform (especially for a $150 triple peristaltic pump) and thats what matters IMO.

 

[that0neguy1126]

Easier and cheaper to just steal one from a hospital...

 

[coloagro]

Why not Belvadere?

It can be. When I first started dosing I was doing it by hand everyday. I just had my gmail email me reminders daily so I didnt forget.

Then I found this:

It doses throughout the day for me both vinegar and vodka.

The pumps have 3 different speeds each and can dose by the drop and second. I test its accuracy weekly (really need to make sure not to overdose carbon) and it has not been off in the least bit since I got it a couple months ago.

I found out about the pump here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1938900

Its the only pump I could find that can dose in such small amounts besides hospital pumps.

I bought it here for $150:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-Magi...199?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f13affc87

definitely worth the investment for those who like to automate and or have daily dosing regimes. It feels kind of cheap and is built kind of cheap but it sure does perform (especially for a $150 triple peristaltic pump) and thats what matters IMO.

I love that setup but I broke down laughing when I saw the airline tubing piped into the lid of a low grade SKOL vodka bottle....lol...it just looks funny! Oh the things we do to keep these critters happy! Great little setup though for sure!

 

[BPreefer]

Thanks Kris for all the great info. This defiantly looks like a nice hands off set up once you get the maintenance dose figured out. I'm probably going to stick with the gfo for now, being that I have all of the stuff bought and here. I will be following along with your progress with the carbon dosing though. What is the reason that you went away from the gfo?

 

[tlsrcs]

So i have been doing a little reading on this vinigear dosing. I had a question is dosing going to kill of my cyano?? or does it mainly work to starve out alages?? cyano is a bacteria correct??