Sump + Wet/Dry together

I won't get into the debate... lace rock is acceptable, but not ideal like reef rock. But you should have a at least 1lb/gallon... so you are probably OK. You can always swap out lace rock for reef rock... I had it in my tank too, but just some decorative pieces... you do not want a lot and count it as "live rock".

So yes... get rid of the HOB filter... if it has two filter pads, take out one at a time... if just one take it out. Do nothing for a wee. Next week start removing bio balls... say 20%... so all gone in 5 weeks... you have bacteria everywhere... but they are mostly where the food is.. which is in the bio balls... so you wan to remove them slowly and allow them to colonize your reef where they belong. now you can do what you want. Make sense?

Nice looking tank too.

 

Agreed, lace rocks are reef rocks. they were there for long time and some corals grown on them already, also they nice to form good landscape so left them as it is. already added 50lbs LR and continue adding more.

wonderful post on fuge/sump, good article !!

 

Is it almost worth taking the skimmer out completely when you have a well established fuge?