Using Chemi Pure?

[FireWater]

I have been reading and researching a bunch and I am getting nowhere except more confused.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1776063
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1776287

[Europhyllia]

John
I was really resisting the use of GFO at first because I had had a horrible experience with an aluminum oxide based phosphate remover (some phosphate removers use GFO - iron oxide, some use aluminum oxide). It killed a nice big leather coral.
That's actually when I started using Poly Filters. I could really observe the leather corals bouncing back from the brink with the Poly Filter pulling out the aluminum. Improvement was very observable.
I definitely won't use aluminum based products again and was still nervous about GFO.
In the Chemi Pure instructions they say to put a poly filter before and after the chemi pure stuff I believe.
So I will continue to use the poly filter with some kind of GFO based product (might be Phosban, might be Chemi Pure Elite or even just bulk GFO).
I do like how it reduces algae a bit.
I have tank shots of the before and after media reactor HERE. No reduction in feeding whatsoever.

[justahobby]

I also made sure to buy ferric oxide and not aluminum.

Firewater, I think what people fail to realize is just how well GFO really works. For example, if you put in the MFG recommended amount and your tank has been suffering from habitually high phosphates you might see problems arise w/ a sudden drop in the phosphates. As noted in the research article of GFO it can drop your levels within hrs. As far as fluctuating Alk, test often. I think they mention in one of those threads or articles that people will turn the reactor on for a short period and back off again to give livestock a chance to adjust.


Edit: The 4-6 months per change of GFO probably won't cut it if your levels are high. I think once you have achieved a target level you can begin using less (given you aren't adding a lot more phosphates back into the water). What a lot of people find out is that their rocks are leaching out for a long time after. My tank used to an aggressive FOWLR and phosphates were an issue. I went reef w/ rodi h2o and GHA vanished. In the last few months been seeing a leaching effect. Then my skimmer went offline for a couple weeks. That's why I chose GFO and carbon dosing. The GFO nipped in the bud while carbon dosing will continue to use up the excess, given I keep my skimmer in top condition lol. I plan on stopping DOC before I reach the ULN stage. It's not in my plans and requires too much time for me to enjoy.

[FireWater]

Wow, I did not think it was this difficult. So, if I run GFO I should be ok as long as I cut the dose and monitor levels? I ask because I am having phosphate and algae issues. I procured a new reactor and need what would be my best combo to run in it for my issues. Is the Poly Filter still needed if I run true GFO?

My next ?'s are on the benefits of running straight Phosban or quality carbon. I am still reading up on those. Thanks Karin and Justin

[Europhyllia]

Is the Poly Filter still needed if I run true GFO?

It's my security blanket ;)
I bet most people who run GFO have never heard of Poly Filter and are doing just fine. I feed heavily and need all the help I can get.
Poly Filters change colors depending on what they take out. I know Farley said Poly Filter are not heavy hitters when it comes to organic waste but according to the colors Poly Filters definitely do take out a good portion for me.
I don't use it just to catch stray iron. I've used it way before I started GFO. Like corruption once said: "Poly Filter does what carbon is supposed to do only it does it better" or something like it.

[neogenix]

I run Chemipure Elite in both my RES (Turtle) Tank (in the FX5) and then Chemipure Elite in my saltwater tank. I didn't run it in the salt water tank originally, but as soon as I put it in, I noticed a huge difference. I've been toying with the idea of running it in a media reactor with some phosban, or even separate reactors for each... we'll see