SPS phosphates, Rowa phos

rynon · #1 09/07/2007, 04:16 PM

Hello! Just picked up some of this today....I went to one of our (LFS) suppliers....talk about fun!!! Anyway I have a LOT of the acroporas they have, I bought them from them. I noticed 2 differences, one mine have grown a TON, way more than I thought. Second, their corals colors are absolutely amazing, I have a blue tort, turquoise stag, purple tipped tunuis from them............wow are mine different, the colors are not nearly as bright. So they have a huge skimmer and use Rowaphos for phosphates, so I got some. Anyway it says to put it between "wool" now I know what that means but how do you all use your GFO (yes it's ferric oxide). I'm cheap, don't want a reactor, just want to hang it in the sump, anyone else do this?

vidrine7322 · #2 09/07/2007, 04:19 PM

I run mine in a reactor, I've noticed a big difference since I've started to do so. I used to keep it in a media bag in a fliter sock with my return pipe.

JetCat USA · #3 09/07/2007, 04:23 PM

GFO in a bag in the sump will quickly clump up into a brick, it needs to be used in a reactor for optimal efficiency. what are your current PO4 levels? dropping levels to quickly is not a good idea, it causes SPS to STN.

with you having good growth I'd suspect your PO4 levels aren't that elevated, and I'd suspect that they use 20kk lighting for their better color and you don't????

rynon · #4 09/07/2007, 04:43 PM

Believe it or not my phos levels are 0 on salifert...yeah I know and red sea test kits. I have cyanobacteria (from ____) that will NOT go away, I've had it for over a year and cannot get rid of it. Ahhhh, now I suppose I need to buy a reactor? Please let me know your thoughts on my "situation". Thanks.

leveldrummer · #5 09/07/2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
GFO in a bag in the sump will quickly clump up into a brick, it needs to be used in a reactor for optimal efficiency. what are your current PO4 levels? dropping levels to quickly is not a good idea, it causes SPS to STN.

with you having good growth I'd suspect your PO4 levels aren't that elevated, and I'd suspect that they use 20kk lighting for their better color and you don't????

i just setup a reactor too, and i was afraid of killing off corals like you mentioned, how fast would the affects take place? if i screwed up, would it be over night? or would it take a couple weeks or so to show up?

JetCat USA · #6 09/07/2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rynon
Believe it or not my phos levels are 0 on salifert......

Oh yeah, i have no problem believing that, the problem for me was i didn't trust the Salifert kit at that low a reading so i got the Hanna Colorimeter and found that my zeros were not all zeros. with the Salifert kit a change of media in my reactors would last 3-4 months before i could get any detectable PO4, with the Hanna it's about half that time.

leveldrummer

if there was a problem you'd notice some change in the corals within a couple days to a week in Most cases but not all.

five.five-six · #7 09/07/2007, 06:06 PM

reactors are cheep, they are like $60 with a pump

Canarygirl · #8 09/07/2007, 06:18 PM

I've heard that you need to start with a small % of recommended amount, then gradually work your way up to full dosage. It's pretty easy to OD. I've known successful, experienced reefkeepers who lost a lot of corals from this stuff. I'm sure it works but you just need to be really careful during start-up.

rynon · #9 09/07/2007, 07:59 PM

Thanks everyone......looks like I'll either be making a reactor or buying one.....really they can't be too hard to make....it's a tube and a pump?

JetCat USA · #10 09/07/2007, 08:18 PM

their less then 50 bucks with a pump/tubing/control valve and the reactor, you'll have that much in it before you get one made.

aquarius77 · #11 09/08/2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
their less then 50 bucks with a pump/tubing/control valve and the reactor.

Can you link me please.

JetCat USA · #12 09/08/2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aquarius77
Can you link me please.

PhosBan 150
GFO
Mini-Jet Pump

five.five-six · #13 09/08/2007, 01:42 AM

the mini jet is the hot setup with the built in flow adjustment I think the 404 is pleanty

oosurfin · #14 09/08/2007, 02:13 AM

i personally would stay away from rowa phos i lost A LOT of sps when i started using rowa phos. i started with less than a 1/4th dose. i switched over to phosar and everything was fine. just my 2 cents

tankgeeks · #15 09/08/2007, 02:24 AM

anybody have any experience with chemi=pure elite?

rynon · #16 09/08/2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oosurfin
i personally would stay away from rowa phos i lost A LOT of sps when i started using rowa phos. i started with less than a 1/4th dose. i switched over to phosar and everything was fine. just my 2 cents

That was my main concern. Anyone else have this issue? Seeing it in use at the suppliers warehouse made me feel pretty comfortable using it, BUT I trust you guys more. The supplier had a ton of SPS which all looked extremely happy? They were using 4 packed reactors of the stuff, I have no clue on their water volume. Thanks.

JetCat USA · #17 09/08/2007, 09:25 AM

it doesn't matter what you use, if you have SPS and you suddenly take the tank from high PO4 levels to near zero, you're gonna have problems. the levels didn't get that high overnight and they shouldn't be corrected overnight. all GFO is Bayoxide 33 regardless of who's name is on the container.

rynon · #18 09/08/2007, 09:29 AM

Thanks Jetcat. I'm going to go to the store I work at today and check my phosphate readings on the Red Sea test...........at least that changes color.....salifert is completely clear. My phosphates have never tested above the lowest reading on the color chart.....so I assume they are low? I'll use it sparingly to start....maybe use it every other day for a while. Thanks again.

rynon · #19 09/08/2007, 02:44 PM

Ok, tested my phosphates with a Red sea test kit, more accurate than Salifert...or easier to read. Absolute 0, and I siphoned all the cyano out yesterday, shouldn't I get a reading? I also checked my nitrates which were also 0, on Red Sea and Salifert. I'm confused?

JetCat USA · #20 09/08/2007, 02:45 PM

use it like ZEOvit to start with, 3 hrs on, 3 hrs off with a timer on the pump for a week.

JetCat USA · #21 09/08/2007, 02:47 PM

seams we posted about the same time............

i used to get what i thought were zeros with test kits too, that's why i went to the Hanna colorimeter. put the GFO on, and run it as suggested above then bump it up to 24/7 after a week and everything should be fine.

rynon · #22 09/08/2007, 03:06 PM

Thanks again. I need to get a reactor first.......I'll let you know how it goes after that.