Thinking about changing my set up a little

[nick654377]

Right now currently on our 65 gallon tank we are running the following

Tidal 75 with Seachem matrix, polishing pad, Bio Pad, and chemipure blue
Reef Octo Classic 100 HOB skimmer

I test nutrients every other day and here was todays readings

Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 20-30
pH 8.0
dkh 11.7 (System is absorbing 0.15 every day) but still want to get more data before I am confident in this number
Mg 1350
Cal 453
po4 0.12

Levels are pretty stable in the tank, I did have a calcium swing but that is coming down and the dkh rose because of my miscalculation. I generally keep it around 9.5

I am dosing every day is no3-po4 x as I am having trouble keeping po4 down with this set up.

I am thinking of taking the tidal 75 off and getting a HOB fuge. Would running a hob fuge and the protein skimmer be enough for our tank? Bio load right now is on the lighter side as its still a newer tank. I do feed twice a day due to having a blue spotted puffer. I have to keep him full. My wife is slowly learning as he is munching on her monti in the tank. we do have a smaller clean up crew but our puffer if not fed twice likes to go after the snails. No biggie I know he needs it.

I am mainly looking to get the nitrates down lower hopefully around 10. I do weekly water changes or water changes every 5 days of 25 gallons using rodi water.

We do want to upgrade in the near future to a 120 with a 40 gal sump, with that said I would hate to buy a HOB fuge, then three months down the road she comes home with a 120 and we need to get a new skimmer and all new equipment. What would you guys suggest?

 

[MnFish1]

What fish are in the system? Are your corals doing ok?

I might suggest that you continue what you're doing - as you plan to enlarge your system - as compared to buying a bunch of new equipment. It does seem that you have a lot of nitrate production - if you're changing nearly 1/2 the water once a week. So - you're probably on the right track - with regards to changing equipment - or a larger tank .

 

[nick654377]

What fish are in the system? Are your corals doing ok?

I might suggest that you continue what you're doing - as you plan to enlarge your system - as compared to buying a bunch of new equipment. It does seem that you have a lot of nitrate production - if you're changing nearly 1/2 the water once a week. So - you're probably on the right track - with regards to changing equipment - or a larger tank .

I mis typed the first thread. I change 25% of the water (15 gallons) once a week.

what we have is the following
Fish
2 clowns
1 blue spot puffer
1 yellow tang
1 long nose hawk fish
2 cardinals
1 clown goby
1 pink spot watchman goby

corals
2 torches
1 hammer
1 chalice
1 favia
1 goniporia
6 mushrooms
7 candy canes
7 inch bubble tip anenome
2 duncans
multiple zoas

clean up crew
1 blood shrimp
1 peperment shrimp
5 turbo snails
5 hermit crabs
a few other snails of some sort cant remember the name of them