BRS GFO vs Seachum PhosGuard

I have never tried gfo but Ive used phosguard and chemipure religiously. The nice thing about phosguard is that it turns a light brown color when it's expended so you know when to replace it. Typically I'll add my first dose into a reactor and it turns color within 2-3 days. The second and there after usually lasts about a month. Use about 1/2-1 cup per 50 gallons.

Edited by LakeCityReefs - February 23 2016 at 7:28pm

Would running both be bad?

Edited by Seth - February 23 2016 at 9:56pm

You can run both. The only issue comes from stripping the PO4 from the water too fast. This can shock corals in your system. So if you are going to run either one start with half the recommended dose and if your are going to run both then split that amount in half again. Then when you change it out slowly increase the amount each time until you reach the recommended amount for your system.

I agree with Krazie, but personally I don't see a reason to run both. AA takes out more than just PO4. It also takes out Silicates, which can be food for some types of nuisance algae, which are especially common in new tanks. GFO does not remove Silicates. There you go. I've given you the second reason, out of five, for my choosing AA over GFO. 

Edited by Mark Peterson - February 27 2016 at 9:50am

Thanks LakeCityreefs, I've been running a few different types of macro since day one anyways, And my nitrates and phosphates have always been good luckily. I'm going to do a water change in the next day or two and replace half of the GFO with Phosguard and try running both. I'll keep you posted on how this turns out.

LakeCityReefs wrote: I have never tried gfo but Ive used phosguard and chemipure religiously. The nice thing about phosguard is that it turns a light brown color when it's expended so you know when to replace it. Typically I'll add my first dose into a reactor and it turns color within 2-3 days. The second and there after usually lasts about a month. Use about 1/2-1 cup per 50 gallons.

Do you use the Phosguard in a reactor?

Activated Alumina

In using GFO or AA(Kent Phosguard, Seachem Phosphate Sponge etc.) there really is no need to use a reactor. They both work just fine in a media bag in a good flow area. Don't pack the bag tight with the media because that restricts water flow over/through the media. Many times I have found it's how something is used that makes it work vs. not work.

Aloha,

Mark 

My question as always is, why use another piece of equipment and a pump that needs electricity, when AA does the job and there is no need to buy a reactor? 

Using reactors and phosphate reducing media is so 2010...too many tank crashes, base tissue necrosis, pale coloration, poor growth, etc....when doing so.  Reactors are too efficient and the sudden drop in nutrients are detrimental to corals, especially sps.  Experienced hobbyists with fragile coral colonies are rarely using GFO anymore, and only carbon on a rare basis.  However, when they do use it, its thrown in a mesh bag and allowed to work utilizing passive flow.

I wouldn't even use the media at all unless the algae on your glass is becoming visual in less than 3 days.  Algae on the rocks is a good sign your tank has adequate nutrients for coral growth and health.  No algae means your corals will suffer as they need the same things algae needs to grow.  Utilize a clean up crew if you find it unsightly.  Seeking phosphate levels <0.03 is something people felt strongly about 5-10 years ago, its not the goal now days.