AIO Middle Chamber

[Johnd651]

Morning

So I have a HelloReef 15 (IM 15). Parameters below. The tank has been stable and the coral seem to be doing well.

Chamber 1 is the filter sock, and 3 is return pump with ATO.

Chamber 2 is the heater with a filter floss sponge, carbon bag, and ceramic beads bag. I have a skimmer but don't use it at this point since the tank has been stable. I feel like the sponge is trapping a lot of detritus. Should there be something different in chamber 2? Just wondering since it is limited space, and I want to use it as best as possible.

 

[Johnd651]

Bump.. I'm guessing people sleep in on Sunday's. I'm the only one crazy enough to be up at 6a every day.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I’d get rid of the sponge. The filter sock is doing the work.

 

[dangles]

If the tank has been doing well, and your parameters are stable, I wouldn't change anything at all :)

 

[Johnd651]

I guess... it's two fold.

One, the sponge seems to have a lot of crap... from up top???

And two, I need space for a second heater.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

If you need space, remove it. I would put sponge on the, im bored lets see if it helps any tier of helpfulness

 

[BriDroid]

If it were me I would remove the sponge. They're just a pain to keep clean. Plus it sounds like you need the space.

 

[IceNein]

Number one... get a larger heater, IMO the 50 watt they give you is only sufficient if you keep that room at roughly 75 degrees. When I first started that heater was on 100% of the time, and it mostly only got to 77. I replaced it with a 100W heater and that heater seems to stay on maybe 30% of the time... I don't know how that maths, out, but that's what it seems like.

I guess the problem with 1 100W heater is that if it ever gets stuck on, your whole tank is going to die. Two 50W would probably be ideal, like one set at 76 and one set at 78, so that one is always or almost always on, and the other cycles on and off, that way if either fails on your tank will probably be ok. But the problem with that is there's just not a whole lot of room in that back chamber.

Regarding the skimmer, have you thought about putting it in and just adjusting to run the skimmer almost completely dry? That's what I've been thinking about doing, just for gas transfer, not so much for filtration.

 

[Johnd651]

Number one... get a larger heater, IMO the 50 watt they give you is only sufficient if you keep that room at roughly 75 degrees. When I first started that heater was on 100% of the time, and it mostly only got to 77. I replaced it with a 100W heater and that heater seems to stay on maybe 30% of the time... I don't know how that maths, out, but that's what it seems like.

I guess the problem with 1 100W heater is that if it ever gets stuck on, your whole tank is going to die. Two 50W would probably be ideal, like one set at 76 and one set at 78, so that one is always or almost always on, and the other cycles on and off, that way if either fails on your tank will probably be ok. But the problem with that is there's just not a whole lot of room in that back chamber.

Regarding the skimmer, have you thought about putting it in and just adjusting to run the skimmer almost completely dry? That's what I've been thinking about doing, just for gas transfer, not so much for filtration.

Yep, I have 2 50W and an inkbird. I need to set the rest of it up now that it's cold.

I will need to see how the skimmer and two heaters fit...I haven't thought of that.

 

[phillyb614]

If the tank has been doing well, and your parameters are stable, I wouldn't change anything at all :)

Second this

 

[Johnd651]

Second this

Normally I wouldn't... but trying to be proactive knowing I need to add a second heater. It is really the sponge. The bad of carbon and ceramic will stay.