Running skimmer with cup off to raise nutrient levels

[Jmcg89]

So ive had a 180 set up now for about 3 months and ive been running an oversized deltec skimmer i have on the system the whole time except a few days.
I have undetectable phos and nitrates and would like to raise those levels without dosing if possible.
Was thinking about running the skimmer with the cup off just to keep the aeration.

Is this even needed? Or should I just shut it off for half the day?

I have an open top and dual overflows as well as a refugium where the chaeto is struggling to grow.

Fish are 2 chromis and 2 tangs and ive been increasing the feedings with no increase in nutrients yet.

Thanks!

 

[Jmcg89]

I enjoy the benifits of the fuge so thats one thing I would like to keep going even though its obviously not helping the cause at the moment

 

[Pistondog]

Is the skimmer pulling anything?
You could run without the cup.
Refugiums are great.
Are you doing water changes, maybe hold off on those.
Still pretty early

 

[Jmcg89]

Yea the skimmer is pulling stuff out, its been almost a month now since a water change.
Yea its early for sure you can just tell some corals arent so happy, its a strange mix haha my acans are loving life but some other not so much which i had expected due to the new system but now im thinking at this point the low nutrients could be a factor.

 

[Jmcg89]

Thats about 30 hours or so since cleaning the cup