carbon/GFO?

[treecowboy42]

I was wondering can I mix carbon and Phosban in the same Phosban reactor? If not which is more beneficial?

[kolosy]

dunno about mixing, but tehy have different purposes. GFO - take out phosphate. Carbon - general filtration.

also - carbon lasts about a month. gfo lasts about 6. so that alone is a reason not to mix - you wouldn't be able to replace one without the other.

[treecowboy42]

Thanks kolosy!

[joshkennedy07]

I mix 'em and change them both approx. every 3 weeks.

I definitely wouldn't leave my GFO in for 6 mos. Maybe he meant 6 weeks - but even still:)

[treecowboy42]

Thanks Josh!

[treecowboy42]

I was told not to use a phosban reactor unless I have a problem, is this true?

[sps1-2-b]

Some people don't like to use a phosban reactor just to use a phosban rx. They like to test for phosphates and if other means of phosphate reduction (i.e. macroalgae, feeding less, ro/di) still don't bring phosphate levels down, then they'll use it. I just started using a rx because my phosphates are .08 with Hanna photometer, and I have a lot of chaeto in my fuge. It's been almost 2 wks and phosphate dropped to .04. So far I like it.

[abraha]

I run GFO / carbon 24/7.

[brodden]

what is GFO?

I have a carbon (canister) filter; but I only change the carbon about every 2-3 months. Apparently I should change it more often, huh? Do I really even need to run a carbon filter in a FOWLR tank?

[RobNJ]

gfo is granular ferric oxide , generic phosban