Need help with decision

[spencjw]

I have a 25 gal IM lagoon and need a Skimmer. I have two clowns, pistol and goby combo and 5 hermits. Feed only once daily a 1/4 cube of mysis and still can’t keep my phosphates in check. Current filtration is only socks. Added in and chemi-blue but not helping enough. After a 5gal water change I get them down to .33 but couple days later they are up to .39-.45. I am currently looking at the IM NuvoSkim desktop DC or the Bubble Magus MiniQ nano. Have seen great reviews on both. One being half the price but if IM would out perform I am willing to spend the extra cash. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[tsharpe291]

I run the bubble magus in my IM 15 and I think it works great

 

[tzabor10]

I battled phosphates for a long time. Then stopped chasing numbers. CUC handles algae. Corals are happy. Hope this helps.

 

[spencjw]

I battled phosphates for a long time. Then stopped chasing numbers. CUC handles algae. Corals are happy. Hope this helps.

I just worry that they will continue to increase and could harm the fish or corals. Going to purchase the bubble magnus so will see how well that helps.

 

[Uncle99]

Bubble Magas makes a nice skimmer and the addition of that to your system, adds another export device as well as water oxygenating, maybe slightly higher PH.

Always a +

 

[spencjw]

My skimmer comes in on Tuesday. Yesterday I did a 15gal water change to include sand sifting and brought the phosphates down to .21, half what they were. I also added a small bag of Phosguard. Going to give that 3 days and retest. Hoping I can get these under control and still very confused on where they are coming from. Don’t feel like I am overfeeding and filtration isn’t getting super dirty. Very confused.

 

[tsharpe291]

what skimmer did you go with?

 

[spencjw]

what skimmer did you go with?

I got the Bubble Magnus MiniQ

 

[tsharpe291]

I got the Bubble Magnus MiniQ

good deal, mine works great, only took a few days to break in.

 

[Idech]

I just worry that they will continue to increase and could harm the fish or corals. Going to purchase the bubble magnus so will see how well that helps.

I just saw a thread here where an experienced reefer had phosphates at 1.68. He has one of the most beautiful mixed reefs I have seen.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I have a Bubble Magus QQ2 on my nano. Great skimmer? Yes, instructions? Not so much.

 

[knockout]

Smaller tanks until mature is an issue, the skimmer will help and has added benefits, but I suggest you keep a weekly wc regimen, tank will stabilize with time

 

[Tahoe61]

I run a Bubble Magus on my Pico. Silent and runs great thus far.

 

[hashbrown1408]

I used to keep some chaeto in the middle compartment of my nano. I never had any issues after that with nutrients.

 

[spencjw]

I used to keep some chaeto in the middle compartment of my nano. I never had any issues after that with nutrients.

That’s going to be my next step. I am hoping with the phosguard I can get them back down and adding in the skimmer I can keep them down and then will start small refugium to help control. I definitely want a couple more fish I would like to feed more than once a day.

 

[braaap]

Why are you feeding those fish daily mysis? None of them require it. Or need it. Feed pellet or flake and your issues will correct themselves.

 

[spencjw]

Why are you feeding those fish daily mysis? None of them require it. Or need it. Feed pellet or flake and your issues will correct themselves.

They seem to like it and thought the mysis would help lower the phosphates. Frozen food I thought was better for them.

 

[braaap]

They seem to like it and thought the mysis would help lower the phosphates. Frozen food I thought was better for them.

Most frozen food contains massive amounts of phosphates. Pellet or flake are better options. Especially for your livestock.

 

[spencjw]

So skimmer arrived today, installed and letting it break in. Getting a small amount of air bubbles in the tank. Hoping that goes away when the skimmer breaks in or may need to do some more adjusting. Also finally turned on the light. Using a preset from another R2R’r. Makes the tank look incredible, the clowns though are not used to it and were going crazy swimming around super fast. Hope they get used to it quick. Phosphates dropped with the phosguard. Doing another 4 day round to see how low i can get them. I am at .24ppm right now.

 

[Dr. D]

I’m sorry, but as a Buffalo Bills fan I have trouble reading your messages… send us Derrick Henry and I’ll answer all your questions. Man, he’s scary.