30 gallon build

I feel the need to address this.

Wet skimming is a good way of basically 'eliminating' water changes. You can replace the water (that is skimmed out) by topping off, but over the long-haul, you will need to dose the essentials, at least. I have done this for the life of my current setup, and has surprisingly done pretty well in the 4 months that I've gone reef. My parameters are still good even now, though if I get more coral (especially SPS), I will be going back to adding salt in my WC water. Not for the salt itself, but for steady levels of calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity, and even trace elements. If I had more money I would simply dose..it would be quite simple, but that could easily add up ($$).

 

oh gotcha, thanks. wouldnt that change the salinity overtime though?

 

Nah, the amount of salt which is being taking out when you wet skim is so minute. You aren't lowering salinity by wet skimming.

Just test salinity before you do the WC (which I hope you are doing anyway).

 

Nice update, though, Adam.

 

Marineland Stealth (or stealth pro). A large number of those (if not all) were recalled, about 6 months ago.

 

When you switch from PVC to flex tubing (or vise versa), are you using a bushing on the PVC end?

 

oh alright. thanks! mines definitely not a stealth because its plastic and doesnt have lettering on the side of it. i also bought it a few months ago, not 6. i have a bushing on one at the intake and i dont on the pump so it doesnt really matter. just make sure that you have clamps.

 

Stealths are plastic. But they have the lettering. You probably have a Visi-Therm heater.

I would have suggested a bushing and a clamp on each, but ok.

 

ya i understand where your coming from, but its doing pretty well because its so tightly fit and the metal clamp instead of the plastic ones are able to be tightened a lot more.

 

Well good news, I put my skimmer on the sump. I had to budge the tank closet to my Stand but at least it's skimming now..