How is GFO reactor better than PhosBan medium in the filter?

Question

I have a cyanobacteria problem. I am using PhosBan/Phosguard as a filter medium and it doesn't really work that well, shall I worry of getting a GFO reactor or am I good with how it is? How would GFO be different?

my setup:

• 30 gallons tank
• 5 cichlids about 3-4 inches long
• Fluval FX6 running all the time (bottomfloor is clean)
• 1 feeding a day, with 1 pinch of cichlids food
• air at high flow with long diffuser
• some sunlight in the morning for about 2 hours
• some plants struggling to grow
• plant lamp on a timer from 2 pm to 8 pm
• over the wall topfin filter with PhosGuard medium, changed every 2 months
• tap water with primer + seachem additives changed 1 time a week

problem is the green patches on the rocks and glass that are hard to scrub off, and it keeps spreading

it used to have brown algae all over and little cyano here and there until i started using PhosGuard

now brown algae is gone and it's just cyano and it spreads like a wildfire

Answer 1

GFO is a lot cheaper if you buy it in bulk which is why I would personally recommend it over other proprietary PO₄^3- absorption mediums. I also have to agree with @Manuki, can you describe what problem you're having and the tank setup including age, lighting including the schedule, stocking, and what you have for water movement?

I don't typically recommend jumping straight for GFO or any other PO₄^3- removal medium for cyanobacteria because it's usually a combination of issues that are causing it, which may be evidenced by the fact that phosban isn't working for you.