Silicates and diatoms

[Joe Lydon]

I did clean my filter socks about two weeks ago.

Two weeks is a very long time to allow organics to build up and break down. Pick up spares, so you can swap them out at least every other day. You're letting nitrates and phosphates leach into your system on a constant basis.

I did run gfo in a reactor with a slight tumble for about 6 months and I changed media every two months, but still diatom.

GFO will only work until it is exhausted. This may take 4hrs, 4 days, or 4 months. It depends on the present concentration of phosphate in your water, how much is continually being added, and the rate of water flow through the media. Once it is at capacity, it will actually leach phosphate back into your system, much like an 8oz glass would if you tried pouring 12oz of fluid into it. GFO starts working immediately, and stops when full. It's important to test for phosphates before you add GFO and during usage. This way, you can determine the rate at which your phosphates are being lowered, and the point the GFO stops working. If you have a high concentration of phosphate, or something is continuously leaching phosphate into your system (like dirty filter socks), you will burn through GFO at a very expensive rate.

GFO is a band-aid though, find the source of your phosphate and eliminate it. I recommend a Hannah phosphate checker, you won't get any kind of usable accuracy on a color swatch type test.

 

[RadReef]

I'm going to look into getting a Hannah PO4 meter, I have one for alkalinity. I'm also going to look into q tds meter. Thanks for the reminder to clean the filter socks, I do not routinely do it, even though It's one of those basic things lol. That could explain some of the problem. Thanks guys!