gfo alternatives

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by lastlight

I think this is like the 5th time I've considered then abandoned the idea. Sorry to clog the forum lol. I read up again and recalled why I've decided against it before. It'll be gfo since it's safe. I always get excited then read lol.

I have used both GFO and FozDown products. The only difficulty I had was maintaining the phosphate at a low level and knowing how often to dose the product. It does make some clumps in the sand but if you skim - and water change it goes away. I have GFO running in my reactor atm but I am considering going away from gFo as well.

I know BRS did a video ok WWC and they control their phosphates with lanthium chloride as a primary means. For me it’s just figuring out how much and how often to dose to mirror the effects of the GFO which is always in place. I absolutely hate the $$$ associated to GFO and lanthium chloride definitely is cheaper for management.

[gregzz4]

Brett, I stopped using GFO back in the spring of - I think - 2016, and haven't looked back.
No GFO, no carbon. I dosed some liquid NO3 and PO4 for a month or so to balance stuff, then stopped using reactors for both.

Using GFO is like adding iron to your system - algae fuel.

I currently, and for the last 3 years, use nothing to combat nutrients.
I keep liquid NO3 and PO4 on hand just in case, but have used neither since Spring 2016.
My tank is a bit low on nutrients as I don't have enough fish, but my corals are doing OK.

Current params are;
Alk 8.3
Ca 420
Mag 1350
K 400
NO3 0 could be higher
PO4 0.013 could be higher

I really need more fish to feed my corals

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Brett, I stopped using GFO back in the spring of - I think - 2016, and haven't looked back.
No GFO, no carbon. I dosed some liquid NO3 and PO4 for a month or so to balance stuff, then stopped dosing both.

Using GFO is like adding iron to your system - algae fuel.

I wonder if this is contributing to the brown dust algae on my sand and glass...interesting.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

I wonder if this is contributing to the brown dust algae on my sand and glass...interesting.

I still get algae on my sand and glass. But I no longer have issues with my rocks, nor do I have hair algae

[Frogger]

There is always a more natural way of controlling nutrients using an ATS or chaeto in the sump.

Tim Tessier (on Canreef) sells Fozdown which is lanthanum chloride. He is a strong advocate of its use.

I have used each and every method I have mentioned above. I do not like adding chemicals or using GFO and I couldn't grow chaeto to save my life. My ATS works like a charm. I had to reduce the hours I run it to reduce the amount of nutrients it is removing from my tank.

[Razor Ramon]

Sounds like you have a very pure water source and a very good salt mix !👍👍

[FishyFishy!]

Brett, if you want to try Fozdown, I have a brand new bottle that I never used because my filter sock holes didn't fit the 10 micron socks that I bought. I use Fauna Marine Ultra Phos 0.04 now, so you can have my Fozdown if you want to try it out.

Wai's usually carries Fozdown.

[lastlight]

How are you running the ultra phosphate 0.04? There are so many products now! How does its price compare to gfo? I certainly need to use something I'm at a whopping 0.24 at the moment but I barely have any coral yet.