Gfo - Your Experience?

[AdInfinitum]

Come on guys...big difference between ferrous and ferric oxides lol....

I left the door open for large systems that make proper application of lanthanum worthwhile but it is not as safe or easy.....done properly anyway....I use both...

 

[Salty Cracker]

.I use both...

...showoff

 

[AdInfinitum]

...showoff

...no just cheap. lol

Actually with large systems people like lanthanum because it can bring down high levels for next to nothing cost wise but I like it because when your levels are already ultra low you can maintain a low level without the risk of stripping the system since lanthanum become much less effective at very low levels.

 

[Canadianeh]

...no just cheap. lol

Actually with large systems people like lanthanum because it can bring down high levels for next to nothing cost wise but I like it because when your levels are already ultra low you can maintain a low level without the risk of stripping the system since lanthanum become much less effective at very low levels.

and where to get this lanthanum and how to apply it?

 

[AdInfinitum]

and where to get this lanthanum and how to apply it?

It's readily available anywhere..I think big Al's, online vendors, pool stores but unless you're going to be upgrading to a really large system I don't think the risks associated with using it and the effort required are worth it. In a small system the possibility of overdosing (the risk is not stripping phosphate..but exposing livestock to unreacted lanthanum or excess precipitate) and accumulation of precipitate are much much greater than in a large system. Further I have not been satisfied with the safety margin of dripping diluted lanthanum into a sock and am in the process of building a reactor with a mixing chamber-filter sock-sand filter process to safeguard my system.

Manufacturers claims that you can just add lanthanum to your tank are only valid perhaps for FW use and are just wrong for a reef system.

Stick with GFO!!! Easy, safe and cost effective for regular sized systems

 

[AdInfinitum]

As an example...I have a 25-30ish gallon frag system running currently. That is maintained with only weekly water changes and a bit of GFO. I have dosers, 2 part, calcium reactors, lanthanum etc in the house, but I don't use them on that system because they are just not necessary...un-needed complications just make things riskier and harder to manage.

 

[Canadianeh]

As an example...I have a 25-30ish gallon frag system running currently. That is maintained with only weekly water changes and a bit of GFO. I have dosers, 2 part, calcium reactors, lanthanum etc in the house, but I don't use them on that system because they are just not necessary...un-needed complications just make things riskier and harder to manage.

Thank you. I will stick to GFO.

 

[Cliff]

I personally have been dosing lanthanum for over year; and honestly I have to disagree with its difficulty of use. In my experience it has been very simple to use and extremely cheap! Yes on a small system where you are not using a lot of GFO it may be worth it to stick with gfo. I would say anything over a 100 gallon is a decent candidate for lanthanum. I know several Aquarius who have been dosing lanthanum directly into the overflow of their tank! Many who have done this for a prolonged period and had no ill affects. Not that I am advising this LOL as I Dose into a 5 µm sock and the precipitate is filtered out. I am just saying that if these people put it right into their tank and have not experienced catastrophic failure then maybe it's not that big of a deal. Even after all my reading on reef central you almost have to turn your water white with precipitate before it will affect your fish.
As for stripping the phosphate out of your water too quickly. Yes this is definitely a possibility. Yet watering down The lanthanum to a mixture of 10 mL lanthanum to 1 Litre ro water makes this possibility far less. By watering it down it is a little more controllable. There are other Products that are basically a watered down version of lanthanum that people dose directly to the tank. Such as agent green and phosphate RX. I am by no means a professional but after using it for over year it has calmed a lot of my fears. My personal experience is that I wouldn't be overly afraid to use it

 

[Salty Cracker]

First I have heard of lanthanum to be honest, but I can't argue with the results I have had with GFO.

However, had I never looked into GFO I would still be experiencing "old tank syndrome" crashes every 5-7 years...

 

[AdInfinitum]

There have been enough reliably documented issues with Zebrasoma and Acanthurus tangs and lanthanum use from reliable sources that I am not prepared to take the chance with my Purple or Achilles so I have opted to build in another layer of safety to my methods.

 

[shamous113]

There have been enough reliably documented issues with Zebrasoma and Acanthurus tangs and lanthanum use from reliable sources that I am not prepared to take the chance with my Purple or Achilles so I have opted to build in another layer of safety to my methods.

I also have read about lanthanum affecting/killing tangs off that I wouldn't want to risk it IMHO, here's one example http://www.beananimal.com/articles/lanthanum-chloride-and-tangs.aspx

 

[Cliff]

Of course you have to take the proper precautions. Just like any other substance we use in our tanks if it's not used right it will cause damage. The same can be said about almost everything we use in our aquarium no?

 

[AdInfinitum]

Of course you have to take the proper precautions. Just like any other substance we use in our tanks if it's not used right it will cause damage. The same can be said about almost everything we use in our aquarium no?

Absolutely...however two approaches to new tech...go ahead...what we don't know won't hurt us....ie just throw it in the tank....or opt to err on the side of extra caution....
Of course the truly extra cautious wait until others have worked out all the kinks and done all of the hard way learning....lol

 

[Pistol]

Of course you have to take the proper precautions. Just like any other substance we use in our tanks if it's not used right it will cause damage. The same can be said about almost everything we use in our aquarium no?

Agreed, If done correctly no non reacted LaCh will enter the system and it is a salt and you can crash a tank with any of the salts we use if you don't use it right.

 

[Chef G]

I use GFO and only use the High capacity stuff the cheap stuff is more likely to grind up into dust regardless of how low you set your flow for it. I get 2.5 times longer use outta it also.