Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO)

[ixtcxi]

Will I have a problem running Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) with a clam tank?

[moliken]

google gfo and pm and tridacna
ive only used phosguard, but any white, non beige will do

[lionspride]

What do you mean by any white non beige?

[moliken]

look at phos guard. that color, white

[junio]

No problem.
There are seven clams in my reef and I've been runing GFO for two years.

[DiscusHeckel]

Originally Posted by junio

No problem.
There are seven clams in my reef and I've been runing GFO for two years.

Same as above. There are five clams in my reef tank. I have been using Rowa Phos (GFO) for the past four years and have had no problem whatsoever.

[moliken]

gfo is not gonna affect everyone's tank/clams the same. i'd still suggest reading, at least, the other r/c posts on the combination. a couple hobbyists just saying that running it and it having no effect on clams is about as scientific as my saying i never ran it and had no issues. it's NOT scientific and should not be the basis for yr decision.
the most consistent comment is that if yr clam has a little protozoa action, gfo can or might accelerate the disease to pm. not a definite. personally, i err on caution. never saw anything on the white phosphate removal affecting tridacs, but lots on gfo doing it.

[mike_cmu04]

I have also had no problem with any clams and i use gfo.

[DiscusHeckel]

Originally Posted by moliken

gfo is not gonna affect everyone's tank/clams the same. i'd still suggest reading, at least, the other r/c posts on the combination. a couple hobbyists just saying that running it and it having no effect on clams is about as scientific as my saying i never ran it and had no issues. it's NOT scientific and should not be the basis for yr decision.
the most consistent comment is that if yr clam has a little protozoa action, gfo can or might accelerate the disease to pm. not a definite. personally, i err on caution. never saw anything on the white phosphate removal affecting tridacs, but lots on gfo doing it.

Moliken,

I and others are simply providing empirical evidence, which has its place in scientific experimentation.

I would be interested in looking at scientific evidence of the effects of GFO use on clams.

[moliken]

i have np w/ anecdotal or empirical evidence. i just operated on the side of extreeme caution, since i never heard anyone complain about phosguard bothering clams or not taking out phosphates. just my experience.

[AquaTDV]

When GFO isn't gradually introduced to a reef it can have negative effects on many corals. Especially when using some of the "high efficiency" GFO's available today. Some systems are just more sensative to changes than others. Because of my experience with these issues in the past, I only use a quarter of the recommended amount for my system. It takes longer, but puts far less stress on my system.

I don't get the mantle extension with my Squamosa that I would normally get when I am not running GFO. Has anyone else experienced this?

[ange062]

+1 on GFO and gradual introduction. I think most people that claim to have issues from running GFO jumped right in and added 2x the recommended dosage on the first day.

If you gradually ramp dosage on your system and start at very low doses, you shouldn't have any problems. I've been running GFO at recommended dosage for about a year with no I'll effects on my clams or SPS.