Question?

[CuseReefer84]

First I should probably introduce myself. My name is LJ and I'm not new to Reef Aquariums but new to Reef Central, kinda. Actually I use to have an account back around 2008-09 but got out of the hobby. Was too young and irresponsible at that time,lol. But now I'm older and just a tad bit more mature, so I figured I'd get back into the hobby. It's definitely been something on my mind since I got out the first time. So I found a system some one was selling on Craigslist. It's a 75g with 20 gallon sump, and 4 t5s. My Question at the moment is, should I use a filter sock if I'm using miracle mud and growing Cheato? My aquarium has been up for about a month but was already setup as a fish only for about a year and a half. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[HerbC]

To sock or not to sock is up to you. I chose not to sock. Been doing fine for 2 years. I found that I have the same nitrate results as I did changing socks 2x a week (10-20's). Changing every day nitrates we're in the 5-10 range. Ultimately, my corals didn't look any different so the extra effort was not worth it on my tank. No refugium, no mud, no cheato. Just consistent feeding, ritual water changes weekly, and cleaning the skimmer cup. Your mileage will vary. Try it with and without. Do the same consistent actions for 8 weeks at a time. Then look at the results and determine what is best. Slow and steady.

 

[CuseReefer84]

I'm growing macro algae and have miracle mud, so I was thinking any extra food would get eaten by the little critters in my refugium. I know I already have some brittle stars and amphiapods in there. Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a good plan.

 

[MarksReef]

Your picture

Your picture

Picture

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

hmmm...

hmmm...

possibly some recovering Protopalythoa.
Possibly some pre-enjoyed aquarium liverock.
Anyways... welcome back. We've ALL matured a bit

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

oh... mud and socks

oh... mud and socks

I run socks- no mud.
I don't run socks to control nitrates- I run them to prevent the accumulation of "mud"... so I vote no socks with mud.

This is not to say I don't believe miracle mud is necessarily a bad thing- it all depends on your system and what you're trying to accomplish (grow etc). In my case, I'm trying to alleviate the accumulation of any detritus in the sump and aquarium to favor conditions for Acroporiids.

 

[HerbC]

Yea, I like it a little dirty. I'm into LPS and softies.

 

[HerbC]

Gary, can you find the old thread about socks? Thanks

 

[CuseReefer84]

Thanks for posting my pic Mark, greatly appreciate it! And yeah that's what I thought they were (zoas, or palys) just wasn't sure. Either way it'll be cool to see what they end up as. And for the sock situation, I'd like to grow sps, and some lps as well, that's why I wasn't sure. I'm use to using a sock so I think I'll keep using it. I have a skimmer running that's rated for a 150g, I wonder if it's too much?

 

[CuseReefer84]

They've really opened up now, there actually some really beautiful green zoas.

 

[MarksReef]

They've really opened up now, there actually some really beautiful green zoas.

:thumbsup:

 

[CuseReefer84]

Turns out they're nuclear green Palys! It was pretty dope watching them grow from little red dots to what they are now.

 

[badinfo]

Not running some sort of mechanical filtration causes pre-mature wear to all your pumps. Esp. your skimmer pump which is not a cheap replacement

 

[CuseReefer84]

Yeah, I went with a sock and everything is great now. Now I'm just trying to figure how much alkalinity and calcium I have to dose. I've been testing every day now for about 5 days and writing it down.