Dosing live additives - how to use skimmer and UV

lost66 · Apr 14, 2021

I started to dose phytoplankton and MB7 and I wonder how should I operate skimmer and UV.
How much time after dosing should I wait till I can safely turn on both of them? I don't want to put them in the tank just to burn by UV and suck them out through the foam.

Any ideas?

Pistondog · Apr 14, 2021

Started dosing live phyto.
Switched from skimming 24/7 to 12/7. Skimmer runs 8pm to 8am.
Dose phyto at 9am.
So far so good.

lost66 · Apr 15, 2021

Did you do any research about that or just used a hunch? This is something may be difficult to see the result. Your tank may still be in a good shape without phyto.

Pistondog · Apr 15, 2021

lost66 said:
Did you do any research about that or just used a hunch? This is something may be difficult to see the result. Your tank may still be in a good shape without phyto.

My meter is the polyp extension on a green slimer acro, among others.
They are really happy since starting the phyto and 12/7 skimmer schedule.
So far the results to my slimer are obvious. Now is it the phyto or reduced skimming? TBD
I read these forums for different reefers experiences and results, that is my research.
Many here think a couple of hours with no skimmer is enough, not sure that's true or just convenient. I wanted to reduce skimming as well to trial that, to see who likes it.
An action/experiment can produce good results or bad, either way you learn something. With inaction, not so much.