Let's have a maintenance debate!

[jakub]

How do you keep your bio parameters in check?


I keep it simple skimmer,25% water change/month and a big tray of chaeto 3'•2'•7" with 200w of fluorescent flood lights


How do you manager your bio system?

 

[Tru REEF]

10% water change every 2 weeks. Filter sock swap every week. Skimmer, phosphate pads(changed with water) and chemipure elite. Keeps my reef happy and i dose "Fuel" which helps alot.

 

[ESVAreefer]

200 gallon skimmer on my 75 gallon tank, weekly water change 10 %, miracle mud and lots of caulerpa. 2 kessil 360we in tuna blue. Using a regular store bought LED flood light bulb to grow my macro. I just took most of it out and gave it to the reef tank at the local high school they need the phosphate reduction. My phos usually stays undetectable and my nitrates only creep up to 5 or so ...... Overly clean water really. I also vacuum all 5 corners of my tank(overflow box makes 5 corners lol) to keep detritus at a minimal. My biggest issue is my alkalinity.... I ran gfo but that did nothing but slow my macro algae growth.

 

[ESVAreefer]

No filter sock now and the sponges LOVE it!!!!

 

[jakub]

200 gallon skimmer on my 75 gallon tank, weekly water change 10 %, miracle mud and lots of caulerpa. 2 kessil 360we in tuna blue. Using a regular store bought LED flood light bulb to grow my macro. I just took most of it out and gave it to the reef tank at the local high school they need the phosphate reduction. My phos usually stays undetectable and my nitrates only creep up to 5 or so ...... Overly clean water really. I also vacuum all 5 corners of my tank(overflow box makes 5 corners lol) to keep detritus at a minimal. My biggest issue is my alkalinity.... I ran gfo but that did nothing but slow my macro algae growth.

No filter socks to buff the water?

 

[ESVAreefer]

Water circulation through the sump is no concern since I have a huge stupid over powered skimmer the pipe from the overflow runs right to the skimmer intake in fact there is 0 difference in skimmate production from when I had a sock and when I didn't. I'm more worried about my algae not getting any nutrients honestly. I put my skimmer on the overflow side, like a derf.

 

[jakub]

Water circulation through the sump is no concern since I have a huge stupid over powered skimmer the pipe from the overflow runs right to the skimmer intake in fact there is 0 difference in skimmate production from when I had a sock and when I didn't. I'm more worried about my algae not getting any nutrients honestly. I put my skimmer on the overflow side, like a derf.

So nothing but skimmer and x% water change?

 

[jakub]

Derf ^ posts

 

[ESVAreefer]

Algae too ..... and there is no such thing as a derf post Also I have a very very low fish bio load, unlike most. If you have a smaller tank then media might be way more effective

 

[Electrobes]

I've had pretty stable parameters with 10% weekly water changes, an oversized skimmer (250G skimmer on a 100G tank) and vinegar (carbon) dosing. I do also use filter socks, but mainly to keep my sump clean.

 

[bobbyM]

Massive skimmer. 400 gallon rating for my 90, bio-pellets, weekly WC.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Replace pillow stuffing two times a week
600g skimmer on 380g water volume
Chaeto in sump
8% weekly water changes
Carbon replacement every two weeks
Gfo replacement every month

 

[flyinryan75]

A question to those of you using skimmers that are way larger than what's recommended.... Do you guys have any nutrient problems?

 

[Electrobes]

A question to those of you using skimmers that are way larger than what's recommended.... Do you guys have any nutrient problems?

Once I got a feel as to how much of something affected the levels, no. It all depends on your style of reefing.

Me personally, aside from Carbon dosing and 10% weekly changes, I don't use any other form of filtration. I only feed the tank about three cubes of food (1/2 LRS Fish Frenzy and 1/2 PE Mysis) a day and dose Alkalinity and Calcium via a doser. I have never had an issue with nutrients and I test out within normal parameters.

I also have eleven fish, some big some small. It helps to have a larger bioload (In my case) to keep nutrients up.

 

[twilliard]

A question to those of you using skimmers that are way larger than what's recommended.... Do you guys have any nutrient problems?

Yes can not keep no3 up

 

[twilliard]

No water changes at all
Orphek helix 5000 on 80G total
Diverse refugium

 

[trio91]

2 tanks......

72gal bow = turkey baste the sand and rocks to remove the "unwanted" stuff, 10gal water change each week (usually every Wednesday), filter sock gets swapped out and media (carbon and Gfo) Carbon= 1x per month and Gfo 1x every 2 weeks, skimmer gets cleaned out every wednesday as well

10gal IM = turkey baste (gently) the sand and rocks , 2gal water change (usually every Wednesday) filter sock gets swapped, chemi pure blue (nano 2x) gets swapped out 1x per month

Wednesday is my "work from home" day so i have the time to do it

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'd personally like to see some pictures along with these details. Seeing the outcome of these different maintenance options would be nice!

Filter sock, skimmer rated for 150 on ~80g water volume in tank. GAC passively in bag, and water changes every week to 2 weeks at about 15 gallons. Every once in a while I'll dose buffered sodium ascorbate in the mysis.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'd personally like to see some pictures along with these details. Seeing the outcome of these different maintenance options would be nice!

Filter sock, skimmer rated for 150 on ~80g water volume in tank. GAC passively in bag, and water changes every week to 2 weeks at about 15 gallons. Every once in a while I'll dose buffered sodium ascorbate in the mysis.

Oh yeah, and a very small ATS by Santamonica. I believe the 1.0

 

[Clayman]

65 Gallon tank, 25 Gallon sump, 200 Gallon rated skimmer, 13 fish so good load there, fuge with cheato and very very little for water changes. I have a hard time keeping NO3 up.