Roller Mat - Fleece Advance Length?

[PopBot16]

I'm running a Red Sea Reefmat in my newer system (IM EXT 200g Peninsula). First time with a roller mat, and I have it set to auto-advance. Am I correct in assuming that increasing the mat advance length will increase uptake of nutrients before they breakdown? The instructions don't specify what adjusting the mat advance length does. The default was set to 1-1.2 inches each time it advances. Essentially, in theory, would a longer advance length decrease nutrients more than a shorter advance length?

 

[Rusty Shakleford]

I have a 170 ext and use the manual advance function to control nutrients. It advances once daily to act more like a filter sock. The big difference for me was using non Red Sea fleece rolls. Do a search, and you’ll find all the contact information. You can buy a lighter weight fleece. Went from using a roll in several days to several weeks on auto.

 

[PopBot16]

I have a 170 ext and use the manual advance function to control nutrients. It advances once daily to act more like a filter sock. The big difference for me was using non Red Sea fleece rolls. Do a search, and you’ll find all the contact information. You can buy a lighter weight fleece. Went from using a roll in several days to several weeks on auto.

So, advancing it once per day as you do right now, do you think you think you're removing *more* nutrients?

 

[Rusty Shakleford]

No, I found I was removing so much I had to start dosing nitrate. Advancing it once a day with skimmer seems to keep nitrates at 5-10. It would seem to me as long as everything is going through the fleece, IE automatic mode, you’ll trap max particles for the weight of your fleece. If you’re still having nutrient problems in automatic, maybe more wet skimming? I also run an algae reactor and have found it to be effective.

 

[PopBot16]

No, I found I was removing so much I had to start dosing nitrate. Advancing it once a day with skimmer seems to keep nitrates at 5-10. It would seem to me as long as everything is going through the fleece, IE automatic mode, you’ll trap max particles for the weight of your fleece. If you’re still having nutrient problems in automatic, maybe more wet skimming? I also run an algae reactor and have found it to be effective.

Okay, thanks. I think I'm going to do the experiment and see if increasing/decreasing the advance length on automatic effects my NO3.

 

[PopBot16]

No, I found I was removing so much I had to start dosing nitrate. Advancing it once a day with skimmer seems to keep nitrates at 5-10. It would seem to me as long as everything is going through the fleece, IE automatic mode, you’ll trap max particles for the weight of your fleece. If you’re still having nutrient problems in automatic, maybe more wet skimming? I also run an algae reactor and have found it to be effective.

Wait, so you do the "scheduled advance" rather than "auto"? And what length for that once a day advance?

 

[Rusty Shakleford]

Yes, advance 12” once a day when using Red Sea rolls. Found this keeps my nitrates 5-10. When I used auto, found I was going through a roll every two weeks and nitrates went down to zero.

 

[Ziggy17]

Yes, advance 12” once a day when using Red Sea rolls. Found this keeps my nitrates 5-10. When I used auto, found I was going through a roll every two weeks and nitrates went down to zero.

how long does it take before the system bypasses and just flows over the top when set up like this?

 

[ReefED!]

how long does it take before the system bypasses and just flows over the top when set up like this?

It'll start overflowing the reefmat 3-4 times in a 24 hour period, in my experience


Rusty is just allowing it to overflow at some periods during the day so that nitrates aren't bottoming out.