Chemi Pure or GFO/Carbon and other filtration needs

[Jason31]

I know this question has been asked in the past with mixed answers but I wanted to ask it specific to my case. I have a jbj 30g and in the back it has two filtration baskets on either side. Currently I'm using a floss, ceramic balls, carbon in them. My lfs told me to use his gfo/carbon back and remove everything else. ( I have a tunze 9001 skimmer , 30lb of live rock and a coral only tank that's been up for 1-2 weeks)

I was originally going to just replace the carbon bags with chemi pure elite until my lfs gave me this advice to gut it all except for gfo.

Thoughts?

Also being that my tanks is coral only do I need a poop cleaning crew or just an algae crew?

 

[Jason31]

bump

 

[timnem70]

What do you mean when you say "coral only for 1-2 weeks?" Is that the amount of time your tank has been up?. If that's the case, take the media out, except the floss, turn off your skimmer and wait another 3-4 weeks before adding anything. Allow your tank to cycle properly, get your test kits (not just ammonia and nitrates). Get a refractometer so you can get accurate information, Magnesium,Calcium, Alkalinity and pH. Are you using RODI?. I don't mean to be harsh but you said you have read the Mixed answers to the same question you are asking. So, I am pretty sure you recognize that if asking for help, the parameters and age of tank are(should be) the 1st to be asked. Rushing what should be a semi natural and Slow chemical and biological process and keeping them stable has also, for as long as I can remember, been paramount to having long term success. Good luck.

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[Jason31]

The tank was setup for a month and went through a cycle. It was a FOWLR tank and the fish got Ich so i removed all the fish and replaced the water and substrate. Live rock and filtration remained the same. since then i've re-started w/ coral only to give the tank more time before adding fish. i dont plan on adding fish until at least 1-2 months and only plan on slowly adding coral.

I'm using RO/DI to top off and the saltwater is from my LFS although i think its ocean water. I plan on swithcing to red sea coral pro salt soon. The parameters are all in line, 0s for all 0.5ppm for nitrate but thats from the ocean salt water from the store. it comes w/ a trace of nitrates which is why i'm changing to red sea coral pro.