Many questions

[saullman]

I feel like I'm new to the hobby with all the questions I have, but sadly enough I've had my tank for almost 2 years now. I guess that is still fairly new to this hobby.

I have a 45 gal JBJ AIO reef tank. 2 small fish right now, a cleaner shrimp, and I just bought 10 trochus snails yesterday to bulk up my CUC. I also have some LPS and softies (6 total) I have been battling an GHA issue for months now. My phosphates are high so I am going to do several small weekly water changes to gradually bring them down.

My questions are all equipment related so here they are:

MP10- at what height and speed should I have it set to?
Here is a pic of my current setup.
Height- haven't moved it since I purchased it at RAP 2018

Speed- I have it set to reef crest mode. The speed was on 4, but I recently turned it up to 6.

Lighting- AI Prime HD.
Here is my current lighting schedule. Someone suggested to me that I turn the whites off? What are your thoughts?

Skimmer- tunze 9004
I took a pic and I know it's hard to see because I'm using my iPad, but it's skimming wet. The collection cup is half full in this pic.

Any advice is good. A mentor to help me out would be great.

 

[ReeferReefer]

As far as the MP10 goes, how do the corals look like they enjoy the flow? Do they look stressed when the flow is max? I would try to increase the flow by one and see what happens. You can keep doing this until you notice the corals reacting and then drop down one level.

You do not need to turn whites off.

I have no used that skimmer. If its like other nano skimmers I have used, you can raise the collection cup to get more dry skimmate.

If you are having problems with Phosphate, GFO works wonders. I only run it when I need it to control algae. It's best in a reactor but even a handful in a media bag will help lower your levels.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Slowly raise skimmer until skimming less wet.

I would move MP10 up 3-4 inches to get more surface agitation but this isn’t 100% necessary


You are probably fine with the level your MP10 is currently set to, but something else I do, to “clean” my tank, is crank up my return pump (this sending more water through the sump) and blow off the rocks and brush off rocks, then set my MP40’s to their highest setting for an hour......

I have 5 MP40’s in a 75g tank, so if my coral are ok with all of those maxed out, you should be fine putting yours through the paces...

For GHA, how big of water changes, and what salt-mix? Maybe try to stuff some phosphate removal media in your filter

I use vibrant in my 75, but not in my nem tank.... it clears it out like magic

 

[saullman]

As far as the MP10 goes, how do the corals look like they enjoy the flow? Do they look stressed when the flow is max? I would try to increase the flow by one and see what happens. You can keep doing this until you notice the corals reacting and then drop down one level.

You do not need to turn whites off.

I have no used that skimmer. If its like other nano skimmers I have used, you can raise the collection cup to get more dry skimmate.

If you are having problems with Phosphate, GFO works wonders. I only run it when I need it to control algae. It's best in a reactor but even a handful in a media bag will help lower your levels.

There is no way to just raise the collection cup on my skimmer without raising the whole skimmer up. I built a homemade skimmer stand that I can possibly adjust.

In terms of phosphates the only thing I have on hand is rowaphos. But my Ifs said to do small weekly water changes until it comes down. However I did not mention that I have rowaphos.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I would raise the skimmer if possible.

Rowaphos will work great. I recommend using it.

Increasing water changes and manual removal will be a big help as well. Manual removal is important too.

 

[saullman]

Slowly raise skimmer until skimming less wet.

I would move MP10 up 3-4 inches to get more surface agitation but this isn’t 100% necessary


You are probably fine with the level your MP10 is currently set to, but something else I do, to “clean” my tank, is crank up my return pump (this sending more water through the sump) and blow off the rocks and brush off rocks, then set my MP40’s to their highest setting for an hour......

I have 5 MP40’s in a 75g tank, so if my coral are ok with all of those maxed out, you should be fine putting yours through the paces...

For GHA, how big of water changes, and what salt-mix? Maybe try to stuff some phosphate removal media in your filter

I use vibrant in my 75, but not in my nem tank.... it clears it out like magic

I have the 2 return nozzles for surface agitation. Unfortunately, I can't adjust the rate of which my flow comes out of my 2 return pumps.

For GHA I am going to do 10% water changes weekly (approx 3 gal) and see if that helps any. I buy all my water from my lfs. RODI and salt. I don't know what type of salt they use??? I get it from different stores.

 

[saullman]

I would raise the skimmer if possible.

Rowaphos will work great. I recommend using it.

Increasing water changes and manual removal will be a big help as well. Manual removal is important too.

Yes, I've been cleaning the tank like a crazy man lately. Cleaning filters, siphoning water through a sock, scrubbing rocks with a toothbrush, etc. Right now the tank looks pretty good.

When I scrub my rocks I am doing it while in the tank. Is this a no, no.

Also I am using a filter pad on one side of my tank and a sock on the other. For some reason I can't use two socks because the second one won't fit. Here is what the filter pad side looks like. Is it ok or should I be using filter floss?

 

[Jon Fishman]

I don’t remove rocks to scrub. I would recommend Vibrant though. Just order on Amazon

 

[ReeferReefer]

I hate socks. I have an Innovative Marine Nuvo 30L and use filter floss but filter pads work just as well. I would use a piece of pad that fits the whole basket (it looks like you have some sponge behind it). I replace my floss twice a week.

Scrubbing in tank is fine as long as you get most of it into the overflow.

 

[saullman]

I don’t remove rocks to scrub. I would recommend Vibrant though. Just order on Amazon

I have heard good things about vibrant, but I have nopox on hand already. Would that be ok to use? I know I have to be very careful when using it and read the directions. Some people even said cut the dose in half.

 

[saullman]

I hate socks. I have an Innovative Marine Nuvo 30L and use filter floss but filter pads work just as well. I would use a piece of pad that fits the whole basket (it looks like you have some sponge behind it). I replace my floss twice a week.

Scrubbing in tank is fine as long as you get most of it into the overflow.

Yeah socks are a passion in the you know what, but they do force me to clean them every few days and keep up with the maintenance.

Is there a benefit to using a filter pad vs floss? Does one filter better than the other. Or maybe one costs less than the other.

 

[Bam84]

Fill the sock in ur fuge with chemipure change to the GREEN pads those are specifically for phosphate. That is the quick fix but i recommend a media reactor.

 

[saullman]

Fill the sock in ur fuge with chemipure change to the GREEN pads those are specifically for phosphate. That is the quick fix but i recommend a media reactor.

Which chemipure are you talking about? I know there are several different types.

Where can I purchase these green pads?