BC29 skimmer?

[LJC6780]

I'm currently running a BC29 with 3 fish, several corals, live sand, live rock and some chaeto. It's a built in sump system and I'm wondering if there is a way to set up a diy or temp skimmer ... or a trick to skimming the surface that I could do daily to help maintain water quality. I do regular water changes and parameters are constant but I've noticed the sump area getting pretty gross and tried my best to skim and vac it out with this last water change. I'd also rather not go spend a lot on a skimmer for this tank as it's a temporary home until I get my 75 up and running.

Thoughts?

 

[Water Dog]

If it's going to be a temporary tank till you set up your 75, I'd just skip the skimmer and just siphon out the back chambers on water change day. I run an Aquaticlife 115 skimmer in chamber 1 of myBC29 and I still make it part of my maintenance routine to clean out the back chambers on water change day. Doing so goes a long way in avoiding detritus build up in the back chambers.

 

[LJC6780]

Is there anything I can do to help filtration? I did have a strip of filter floss in but thought I'd read it can increase nitrates, even though I made sure to rinse it often. Could I put that back in and be ok?

 

[Water Dog]

I'm a big fan of the InTank media basket for the BC29. On the top tray, I use filter floss, the middle tray has a 100mg bag of Purigen and the bottom has BRS ROX carbon in a media bag.

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Coralife-Biocube-29-Media-Basket-CL29MR.htm

 

[Darryl]

tunze 9001

 

[Mel 2038]

Is there anything I can do to help filtration? I did have a strip of filter floss in but thought I'd read it can increase nitrates, even though I made sure to rinse it often. Could I put that back in and be ok?

Yes, you can put the floss back in, if it helps get the waste out. Just keep it clean. Also, you may want to try to clean the filter more often.

 

[LJC6780]

Yes, you can put the floss back in, if it helps get the waste out. Just keep it clean. Also, you may want to try to clean the filter more often.

What filter? On the pump? I take it out and rinse too. I also vac the sump area with water changes along with wiping down all the walls.