Granular Ferric Oxide

Granular Ferric Oxide is this a powder or is this small rocks? I know it says Granular but if I was to you this in a canister filter what would keep it in?

 

Its not rocks or a powder more like sand sized pellets. Do you have a phosphate or silicate issue that you are dealing with or just being proactive? I run it proactively via chemi-pure Elite.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

 

I used to run it in a canister filter, it actually worker really well. I had to make my own filter bag though. The filter bags they sell have holes that are just too large for GFO. So, I'd get the filter bags that that the sell for the wisper bioroller filters, whatever they call them, for carbon and empty the carbon.

They have a plastic insert in them to maintain their form and allow them to slide into the whisper. I'd cut this at the top, leaving the horizontal bar across the top and plastic snap. If you look at one, it should make sense. Then fill this with GFO and close it with the plastic snap. Then as a precaution, take one of the normal filter bags, and put this in the normal one. Pull the string to close it tight and tie the string around the bag and just put this in the canister filter.

You can reuse this, so, you don't need to buy often and it's just a few bucks for a 3 pack of filter inserts.

 

good read. thanks for sharing

 

Just to add... I forgot to mention, if using in a canister, you may need a little more as it might not be quite as efficient. I probably used about 30% more than the recommendations for a reactor. Also, I don't know what size your tank it, but for a larger tank, it may be worth buying a reactor. 55g or less a canister is probably fine.

 

Check out Bulk Reef Supply, they have pictures of exactly what it looks like. They also have some of the best prices out there for GFO and Carbon. Using a canister for GFO would be really inefficient IMO, GFO is supposed to tumble slowly for it to be efficient not be packed into a filter bag. I use BRS's Dual Reactor for Carbon and GFO and you cannot beat it for ease of use. I use a Maxi Jet 1200 with mine.

 

Well I am just planning for the future. I don't have a sump or plan on having one [hopefully] any time soon. I guess the real question is does it work in the canister or just not as good as a reactor. Thanks for all the help.

 

Well, I know Randy, who wrote the article pink4miss posted runs it mixed with carbon in a canister filter (or "ran", not actually sure if he still does, he's disappeared lately) . It is nominally less effective. No big deal. You don't want too much flow though as it can become pulverized and the dust may irritate some corals. I ran it at about 180gph throughput. I wouldn't go much more than that.

 

i didn't post the article Crimson Ghost did, i just read it and found it informative

 

OK so the canister is a rena xp4 so that is 450gph so that might be to much. its cool its a learning process. And I am learning the ant farm my have been a little cheaper.