Should I run GFO or Carbon in my new reactor?

[lex_lutha111384]

I run gfo all the time. I run it for like a month, then switch it out when the glass starts getting covered ib brown algae. Phosphates stay pretty low. Sps are doing awsome. Someone told me gfo can hurt sps. Maybe in some tanks that could happen I guess.

 

[Spaceman]

I Have a dual brs reactor and a reef octopus br100 reactor all running right now. So a carbon a gfo and a bio pellet reactor.But no media yet..

 

[ReefKeeper1699]

There is absolutely no trouble running carbon all the time. Only trouble is if it tumbles. Carbon is beneficial anytime and all the time

 

[STiTCH87]

I disagree with all saying no reason to run carbon. There's many reasons to run carbon. Especially 24/7. I've seen nothing but huge improvement running it. Visually, scent wise, coral health, polyp extension, algae control. You name it. I wanna avoid GFO. That's what waterchange are for.

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[Pat02026]

Stitch, I fully agree with your last reply. I played with gfo a few times and went a little overboard (about 1 cup instead of half) in the reactor and it sucked the colors right out of my corals. It's not necessarily the gfo itself, it's how effectively it strips the water. Your inhabitants are used to the amount of nutrients in the water. When you rapidly decrease them which is what happens when you run gfo at the recommended dose, it shocks the system if it's not snuck up on. I always ran ROX.8 carbon and it worked wonders for keeping the water clear and the smell down (with the exception of skimmer and scrubber cleaning time!!)

 

[ReefKeeper1699]

Believe it or not, maybe a coincidence, but since I have added carbon I am getting an explosion of new polyps forming on my Zoas and Pallys. The smell is that clean water smell. Everything is brighter. I do a 1 pound mesh bag of the stuff in my sump like I stated and I may even throw in another bag lol.

 

[STiTCH87]

Believe it or not, maybe a coincidence, but since I have added carbon I am getting an explosion of new polyps forming on my Zoas and Pallys. The smell is that clean water smell. Everything is brighter. I do a 1 pound mesh bag of the stuff in my sump like I stated and I may even throw in another bag lol.

Certainly not coincidence because i've noticed that exact same thing. Since I've been running carbon my zoas have looked night and day a hundred times better than ever before. It's incredible. And water clarity and clean smell is fantastic. I've also noticed now when I do my water changes (I use a white bucket) it fills up with crystal clear tank water instead of the yellow/brown tinted water typical of a water change. More proof to myself of how just a handful of carbon made a huge difference even after being one and a half weeks late in a waterchange without a skimmer running that whole time. Incredible. For the price of carbon, there's absolutely zero excuse not to atleast float some IMO.

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[ajm]

Stitch you talked me into it, ordered a reactor yesterday for carbon. Merry xmas to me

 

[ReefKeeper1699]

Carbon is a tank mirical and success secret. I recomend it anytime and all the time!!!!

 

[ReefKeeper1699]

Please read the link I posted earlier on in this thread. Did anyone read it? It was eye opening!!!!

 

[mchartier]

Please read the link I posted earlier on in this thread. Did anyone read it? It was eye opening!!!!

I just tried to while I'm waiting for my meeting to start, but can't our filter blocked it with a category of "illegal drugs".

 

[STiTCH87]

Lol well there's certainly no drugs involved, but yes that article is fantastic..

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[ReefKeeper1699]

Unless your shooting up some carbon man.... Lol not a drug link. It's just a detailed carbon article that makes you want to carbon it up