Ferric Oxide Re-use?

[Domboski]

Is there a manageable method for preparing GFO for re-use? I'm just wondering if there is a simple way to get the ferric oxide to release what it has binded and cleaned for re-use.

Thanks,

Dom

 

[ZANYMASTER]

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[Cibo]

It can be re newed 4 x it 4 x the cost I would just but new

 

[CraigBingman]

There isn't any easy way to get it off and maintain the ferric oxyhydroxide matrix intact. (I assume you want it to work when you reuse it.)

It is known that if you reduce the ferric iron to ferrous iron, phosphate desorbs. Unfortunately, that will destroy at least part of the matrix.

Low pH would also desorb phosphate, but it would also change the matrix.

Extremely high concentrations of hydroxide ion might displace some phosphate, but I can't recommend that people go there, for safety reasons, and I also haven't tested to see if the phosphate absorbing capacity of the material would be preserved. It is known that high pH displaces arsenate from ferric oxyhydroxide. As you may know, another use for this material is to reduce the arsenic concentration in waters in certain parts of the world.

Short answer, the safest bet is to just buy new media.

 

[Domboski]

Thanks Craig. I have a heavy bioload so I was trying to find a way to save a few bucks.

 

[House of Laughter]

Thanks Craig. I have a heavy bioload so I was trying to find a way to save a few bucks.

Buy in bulk TLF sells a 6000g bucket - Thats what we use

House

 

[meschaefer]

Bulk is the way to go. When you buy it in bulk, it is pretty cheap.

 

[Domboski]

Thanks guys. I already have been buying in bulk but I go through the GFO rather quickly. My bioload is way too high but I'm not willing to cut back on the fish I usually run 4 reactors of GFO. I used to also run through carbon first but the carbon would get clogged too easily. I'm constantly experimenting to try and reach an equilibrium I can live with I've heard of boiling carbon for re-use although I can not recall where. Thought maybe there was something similar for GFO.

 

[Ricardo_Jorge]

How long you usually replace the GFO media in your systems?


Hug

 

[TOTAL AQUARIUMS]

I've never heard of a media that didn't diminish in capacity when "recharged" in some way. Even if they remain intact the medias ability to absorb is less than it was which would mean you would have to keep changing it faster and faster. I don't think your problem is the GFO but rather there may be a better way to utilize it? Or maybe something else you can piggyback to your current setup to take the bulk of the phosphate and leave the GFO to scrub what's left. I know that the liquids used to reduce phosphate are just a bandaid but they may be a means to take it out of solution and minimize the concentrations over time if you use it long enough.

I think rather than dwell on the GFO problem there might be a different approach. Do you have a pic of the filtration you could post?