Skimmer?New need advice

Thanks Steve

Let me clarify and Im not sure if were talking about the same thing but I have crushed coral substrate not sand as the coral pieces are larger?
I do and alsways have had the fluval running.It is a 404 so major overkill but I assume thats good?How often should the media be changed in the Fluval?I have not done it and not sure the last time it was done.Nitrates are between 5-10 ppm.I should probably do a water change first though to see where they end up?If I leave the plate in will detrius just make its way under and accumulate anyway?

 

welcome
what media are you using? if its filter pads , then a rinse in tank water at water change time each week is ideal just to keep the large items of crud off the pads

if it has carbon? then this needs to be changed monthly - or every couple of months- depending on amount of live stock in the tank

100% honest - if it where mine, I would consider removing the UG
getting rid of the crushed coral as it provides hiding places for uneaten foods etc and replace with a 1 inch layer of argonite sand

what amount of rock have we got in there? go for maybe 1.5 llb of rock per gallon as the rock will get colonised by bacteria and improve your filtration

sort of do it once and do it right - sorry if this sounds like bad news

Steve

 

Im actually not sure what kind of media is in it.Friend was gonna get rid of the tank and brought it down from Nevada and set it back up all in a day to keep things alive.The fluval just got re attached and plugged in and I started reading.Guess I should shut her down and take a look or give him a call but he wasnt very knowledgable.The tank has 45lbs of live rock that is 25 years old and very purple and from what i was told filters well.The old tank owner only added replacement water and "never needed" to do water changes.I will be doing water changes however!
I hear you about the UG but man the LR is laid out perfectly and to remove the UG wold mean destroying a masterpiece.Ughhh Im gonna beat my friend...
Thanks again for all the info its very much appreciated

 

I'm with Steve here. 'Cept I'm less reluctant to dole out "bad news." Sometimes the bad news is what we need to hear the most.

Losing the CC and replacing it with sand is one of the first things I did when I decided to go reef. It works.

Speaking of bad news, I might have more for ya. Many might disagree with this, but in my opinion, a reef tank is no place for a canister filter run to achieve mechanical filtration. Sure, they can serve their purpose if run with chemical filtration like carbon or phosphate reducing material, or even nitrate, copper or any other specialized ion exchange resin--but if you're running them as mechanical filtration, you're killing yourself with labor.

You see, filter floss needs to be changed pretty regularly. The easier it is to access, the more inclined you are to stick to your maintenance schedule. I was all gung ho in the beginning, and was willing to do everything and anything to achieve my little piece of the reef. But alas, this gets old fast. The easier you make life for yourself in the beginning, the more you are inclined to succeed.

I run a piece of floss in my sump and change it at least once a week. If I get my hands in the tank, move a rock, clean the glass off schedule, etc, I'll change the floss the next day. This makes for lots of changes. In this hobby unless you design your reef for convenience, you're going to tire of maintenance.

In short, I guess I'm saying go with Steve's advice. If you use 1.5 lbs of rock for each gallon (or more if you like) there will be no need for a canister filter.

Good luck!

 

Thanks ReefSparky

I do have 45lbs of very purple 25 years old live rock that has been in the tank for the entire 25years.The problem is throughout the change of owners over the years the mechanics of the tank has been changed a few times.Once upon a time 2 owners ago it did not have the fluval, only a skimmer and the LR and that was sufficient from what i was told by him.The last owner was told the fluval would replace the skimmer and ditched the skimmer when it broke.Then he talked me into setting up the UG.Now Im looking at digging up the tank getting rid of the UG,replacing the crushed coral with sand, and possibly the Fluval and adding the skimmer again?Oh and the lights need to be replaced.Anything else?lol

 

great summary reddog

tank with skimmer and live rock was a typical Berlin system (although the LR does not sound enough)

Reef sparky is pointing you back in that direction as a couple of changes of hands have compromised it to some degree

Steve

 

Well thanks for all the input.I will look into "fixing" the tank.Skimmer first and then new lights.
Im reluctent to dig up the tank and start over though.Would frequent vaccuming sessions help maintain the crushed coral substrate If I diisconected the diffusers and stop using the UG?
Also if I stop using the bubble wand and stone how will I get proper oxygen absorbsion?All from the skimmer?

 

the skimmer will provide alot of gas exchange from the bubbles. also it will enhance the gas exchange from the top of the tank since it removes the surface film. you can keep the airstones if you want but you may get tired of them i dont think there needed with a skimmer
strong flow is also important in gas exchange, so make sure you have some powerheads.

i think you could leave the cc if you vacuum regularily since its only a inch deep. there is a potential problem with the ugf if you keep the cc, food and waste will build up in there and you wont be able to vacum the stuff out and probably will raise nitrates.
and steve this wouldnt act like a plenum since the cc would provide too much water flow, so it would just be a detritus pit.

i would recommend either changeing the cc or removing the ugf, both would be peferably but i would say doing only one is necessary.

 

If you go through the trouble of doing one, you might as well do the other. With the nature of either task, one sets the stage for the other.

 

Could I dig out the CC and refill sand over the UGF burying it?Does sand need vaccuming?
Just really trying to not break down the LR structure.