the fine line with going 'plus 1' on skimmers

[sunny d polyp]

Timber77

Timber77

Timber77 said..."Ya, i can't dose carbon or I will get cyano", hope this is not off topic and my apologies if so. Has there been some research on this? I too dose carbon (2 BRS canisters of high capacity brs carbon on my mixed reef 120/gal) due to cyano on my sand. Parameters are ph-8.0, alk 3.1, ca 450, mg 1500 temp 80F and I can't get rid of the stuff, I am baffled to say the least. I change the carbon every 3 weeks and run another canister with GFO and change this once a month. P04 is 0 and nitrates are undetectable too. SPS are doing fantastic but have a bit of fuzzy miniature x-mas tree algae on the rocks, pulling nutrients out of the LR and sand?

Jerry S.

 

[Big E]

One thing to consider is what type of export set up you're employing. I like to go for 3x the rating and only use a skimmer and water changes.

My 160g total volume was run by a Deltec AP702 (450-500g rated) barebottom, and it kept my nutrients low.........best setup I've had for exporting nutrients. I ran this way for 8 years on an SPS dominant tank.

It would idle at times but the foam level stayed steady. More due it not being finicky and being an external recirc unit. Internal units are more prone to overflows and uneven levels with only one pump producing bubbles and water.

GFO, Carbon dosing, refugiums, carbon, ect. are all add ons and crutches you'll need if you don't oversize the skimmer. If you're using some of these than it would be possible to overstrip the water, but I don't think it's the skimmer's fault.

 

[reefgeezer]

Timber77 said..."Ya, i can't dose carbon or I will get cyano", hope this is not off topic and my apologies if so. Has there been some research on this? I too dose carbon (2 BRS canisters of high capacity brs carbon on my mixed reef 120/gal) due to cyano on my sand. Parameters are ph-8.0, alk 3.1, ca 450, mg 1500 temp 80F and I can't get rid of the stuff, I am baffled to say the least. I change the carbon every 3 weeks and run another canister with GFO and change this once a month. P04 is 0 and nitrates are undetectable too. SPS are doing fantastic but have a bit of fuzzy miniature x-mas tree algae on the rocks, pulling nutrients out of the LR and sand?

Jerry S.

Hi Jerry, I believe the carbon dosing being discussed is not related to high capacity carbon (GAC) but rather the addition of compounds heavy in carbon molecules like vinegar, vodka, sugar, and etc.

 

[sunny d polyp]

got ya...

got ya...

Thanks reefgeezer.

I'm a noob I guess reef 87, what does ,,,,, mean?

 

[arnoldrew]

Thanks reefgeezer.

I'm a noob I guess reef 87, what does ,,,,, mean?

I think it means his cat was sitting on his keyboard.

 

[Tenshoa]

that said, it's the bioload not the water volume that matters. A 125 with no fish that's loaded with sps might run well with even an under rated skimmer. Add a bunch of heavily fed fish to that same tank and even a high end skimmer rated at twice the tank's volume might not be big enough.

+1

 

[Timber77]

Geezer I was saying i can't vodka, vinegar, or bio pellets on my system. As soon as I do Cyano starts to develop. I also do not run refugium or let any detritus settle out, I have tons of flow in the tank and even in the sump. That with aggressive skimming works well for me.