I know, I get this. I’ve read into it quite a bit. My experience is that it drastically slows the systems ability to balance on its own, without bio load or additives. Opinion, not fact but I don’t claim it as fact. Many people claim facts and others buy into it as they believe the facts as they are construed.
The skimmer is a bit of an optical illusion in this photo. It's actually running pretty dry. You can see the actual wet skimmate on the bottom of the cup. Above that is just old skimmate I didn't clean off, and above that is the new skimmate (the white bubbles).
So I’ve been in this a long time. When I moved into a new house and subsequently a new tank, I fell for the BRS videos and fuge hype on the forums. It does make sense, I get it. But like you, I was adding phosphate and nitrate just so I could grow algae. There’s no problem with that if that what you want to do. It’s just more work than one might realize and in the end, meh. Not for me. Easier to wait a bit, or add fish. If balancing your ph is the goal you’ll need a lot of chaeto, a lot of nutrients, and a lot of light, but most don’t worry abiut this until after they have coral
Hermits, though cool little buggers, will…. Again here with my opinions…. Will eat the ceriths and probably the nassarius after awhile. I’ve tried the quote have plenty of extra empty shells routine, but that didn’t stop the inevitable.
It may be your opinion, but its also my experience, hence no hermits. I had an army of empty shells for them, I think they kill for food/sport.
Check out https://drreefsquarantinedfish.com/ - I seldom buy fish local anymore.
Nope. Exactly right... Lots of foam, little water - Dry... Little foam, lots of water - Wet. There is also wet and dry foam which resides between absolutely dry and absolutely wet.
Haha, bloodsport for sure. I just like to clarify opinion as so many on this forum claim fact for everything and people take it as gospel, especially if they have a bunch of tags under thier name. If not a pro, I don’t claim to be, I’m just a reefer
Okay, good. I actually adjusted it to be drier when I had the first nitrate drop. I cannot explain the second one, but will be increasing my bioload ASAP.
I only went for scarlet leg hermits and my snails are relatively untouched by them.
I actually did follow the philosophy of let the tank do its thing. I avoided harsh chemicals all together. The neophos and neonitro dosing was during 2 month fallow period with no bioload. I went through a relatively easy ugly stage with some months of a GHA jungle but even that was managed with a good cleaner crew. Now at 14 months everything is much more stable and predictable. I use my fuge primarily for PH balance and some export of course. Corals and fish are thriving and i try to stay as natural as possible in my approach to upkeep.
Agreed. Just saying uptake is 24/7 to some degree. Often see it mentioned as if only when lights on.At some level, increased lighting certainly boosts uptake (imagine starting in a nearly dark room) and at some point, too much light is bad (imagine the surface of the sun). At some point in between, there will be a maximum of growth and uptake of N and P.
