Brand New 8 gallon bio cube

[SashimiTurtle]

Like plaintiff attorneys. I don't know how it is where the rest of you live, but it is out of control here. One of the reasons we have the highest insurance rates in the nation.

One call, that's all.
Don't scream, call Akim
Hurt in a car wreck? It doesn't cost a thing to see if McWirter, Bellinger and Associats can help.
Dial all 9s
Dial all 2s

 

[SashimiTurtle]

You beat me to it. I’m always late to the conversation

You and me both.

 

[Katrina71]

Ok the movie Capsized: Blood in the Water will keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

[sfin52]

I spend most of my day cleaning and doing maintenance to the reef tank. Water change, soaked skimmer in vinegar, cleaned lights, rehomed a leather frag loads of fun. You guys are having a blast

@Crabby48 nice save on power issues. Heather(wife) buddy and I were talking about that today. Sorry to hear about weirdos. Thats the reason I dont keep nems. Just for you @dantimdad.

@Katrina71 that's awesome he is spreading his wings a little. My youngest start middle school in three weeks.

All. Thoughts on skimmer for 55g tank. All softies. Mel wrasse,2clowns,royal gramma and coral beauty. Is it necessary?

 

[Katrina71]

@sfin52 with softies, I would say no. They are big eaters. Skimmers do have other benefits though. Just my .02

 

[Hemmdog]

Softies release toxins so I personally 100% would and also run carbon. But I like my tanks much lower nutrient than you guys, I think.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Carbon seems like a must with softies. I have always run it anyway on any fresh or marine tank.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Softies release toxins so I personally 100% would and also run carbon. But I like my tanks much lower nutrient than you guys, I think.

ATI ICP test results...
0.01 NO3
0.07 PO4

Is that low enough for you?

 

[Hemmdog]

ATI ICP test results...
0.01 NO3
0.07 PO4

Is that low enough for you?

Oh wow! lol. I’m 3-5 NO3 0.02PO4

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Oh wow! lol. I’m 3-5 NO3 0.02PO4

My tank is dirty tho. Not one of those ULNS systems that barely feed their skinny, emaciated fish. Lots of food going in, lots of chaeto growing in the sump, lots of fat, happy, healthy fish. I need to do a thing on how much and what I feed. Might get that together and post on my thread tonight...

I'm about to start dosing KNO3 for nitrates. I made a solution of 3tsp KNO3 and 200ml RODI. It should raise my NO3 by 0.25ppm per ml. Got a bit of cyano trying to grow in a low flow corner. Nutrient imbalance and low flow, cyano. Easily fixed tho. I would just feed more to correct the issue, but my nitrates essentially tapped out with phosphates in a good place. Adding more food will increase nitrate and phosphate equally, leaving me with the same issue.

 

[dantimdad]

I spend most of my day cleaning and doing maintenance to the reef tank. Water change, soaked skimmer in vinegar, cleaned lights, rehomed a leather frag loads of fun. You guys are having a blast

@Crabby48 nice save on power issues. Heather(wife) buddy and I were talking about that today. Sorry to hear about weirdos. Thats the reason I dont keep nems. Just for you @dantimdad.

@Katrina71 that's awesome he is spreading his wings a little. My youngest start middle school in three weeks.

All. Thoughts on skimmer for 55g tank. All softies. Mel wrasse,2clowns,royal gramma and coral beauty. Is it necessary?

Necessary? No. Preferred? Yes if you don't have an efficient means of oxygenation and nutrient export.

@sfin52 Ha ha. Very funny.

 

[Katrina71]

The great skimmer debate. Lol. I personally think it depends on your rate of consumption, which will vary greatly from tank to tank. Even the type of lighting you use will have an effect.

 

[Katrina71]

Necessary? No. Preferred? Yes if you don't have an efficient means of oxygenation and nutrient export.

@sfin52 Ha ha. Very funny.

I totally agree. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Good husbandry and a few powerheads can do the same thing.

 

[Katrina71]

Or an airstone and refugium for that matter.

 

[Katrina71]

I'm willing to bet if we all set up identical DTs, we'd all have a successful reef no matter how we take care of our nutrient export. That could be a fun experiment.

 

[dantimdad]

I'm willing to bet if we all set up identical DTs, we'd all have a successful reef no matter how we take care of our nutrient export. That could be a fun experiment.

If I still had all my issues of FAMA, I could show you the article where they did something similar.

They took two 55s setup exactly the same FOWLR and a shop light with 50/50 bulbs. One had a skimmer and the other a "New natural method of nutrient export" (refugium) and both did pretty much the same. It would have been better if they did it with reefs but it was cool none the less.

 

[Katrina71]

Hippie kid told me he was gonna miss me today. I kept cool in the car until he got out. He decided to wear a polo and khaki shorts. (And the watch my dad gave him)

 

[sfin52]

Thanks for all the responses. With all that in mind I will tell my friend its a must.

 

[Katrina71]

I think a skimmer is a "safer" option.

 

[Brew12]

I'm willing to bet if we all set up identical DTs, we'd all have a successful reef no matter how we take care of our nutrient export. That could be a fun experiment.

Completely agree. I also am of the opinion that a skimmer offers much more benefit to a newer tank than an established one. Corals themselves are an excellent nutrient sink and will reduce the work a skimmer/refugium needs to do as they grow in.