How often do you replace carbon and gfo

I run mine longer than I should.

Do you use the carbon and gfo separate or are they mixed together?

If you were running them separately you could swap out the gfo without wasting the carbon.

 

I change carbon about every 6 weeks - would probably do it every 4 weeks but its a pain changing the reactor. I usually run GFO 2-3 months. But then, my phosphate levels are low to start. They usually are up to about .06 or .07 when I change the medium. If you have alot of phosphates, then the absorbtion capacity of the media is used up much quicker. I don't remember if there is a formula that gives you an idea of the amt of phosphates that GFO can absorb. If I were you, I'd probably check the phosphate level on a weekly basis for awhile. If the phosphate level has decreased a reasonable amt from the previous week, I wouldn't bother changing it. Once it stops decreasing or starts to increase - then I'd change it again. Repeat until the phosphates are at where you want them to be, then you should be able to leave the GFO for longer periods of time and also not test as frequently. My 2 cents!

 

I agree with Janette. You may have to change out weekly until it gets lower. Then monthly should be fine. Higher po4 uses up go pretty quickly.
I change mine monthly. Both carbon and gfo. I change gfo sooner if I notice algae popping up or glass cleaning becomes more frequent.

 

You just need to get an algae scrubber. I can refer you to a guy who makes them but it might be a bit before he gets you one

 

@Armydog did you get your zeo running yet? Won't some of that stuff take your po4 down? Or do you run both?

 

Cool. Yeah I just went to the zeo forum and did a little looking around. Just checking out basic stuff. Looks pretty good. How close are you on your alk?

 

I'm surprised, but it makes sense

 

Have you thought about doing lanthanum chloride drip? At least to drop the initial high phosphate and then move to gfo? I did that in years past and it worked quite well and once the phosphate was under control gfo lasted a month or two, although some large system just maintain a constant lanthanum drip before fine media.


I also always used to recharge my gfo too. I bought the large size container from BRS and would put exhausted gfo in another container until I was almost out and then recharge a large batch to last me almost a year.

 

I change mine the first day of every month, that way I never forget.

You can try to run some Sea Klear. Make sure you research it and have a plan. It is best added in very small dilutions, and then filtered out mechanically

 

That's good to see it's working. I agree that it was probably just not being changed enough vs. a major issue.