Water too clean?

[ReefMP]

I run a skimmer and a 7" DSB/fuge on my mixed reef. Other than macro algae (halimeda, blue algae and cheato) in the fuge and coraline in the DT, I don't have any bad algae issues. All my parms are in check.....yeah I know, hugh problem right?

A few weeks ago the venturi on my skimmer clogged up a bit with CA deposits and the skimmer cup overflowed dumping skimmate back into the sump, what I noticed after that was strange, all my corals had more polyp extension and looked more colorful the next day. I started shutting off my skimmer a few hrs/day and within a week the difference was noticable and my parms are still in check. Am I running my tank too clean?

 

[Paul_N]

It is very possible. You can leave the skimmer on and just feed more. When I went from my 75 gallon to my temp system to get ready for my 220 upgrade I sold off a bunch a fish. My coral started to get pale and I realized I was feeding the tank less due to less fish. AA's will help with this also.

 

[stedfast82]

I stopped all WC for a month and my reef went nuts things looked real nice. The down side was trace element's and things started to brown out. Went back to WC. You just need to learn your reef witch is a study all in it self.just my 2cents

 

[ReefMP]

I hear you guys, I feed my tank quite a bit, my fish are fat and happy. However, my corals have all pretty much matured, filled in the tank so I guess they need more food. I don't feed the tank anything for corals, maybe I'll start doing that. What do you guys recommend? I use to use cyclopeez a while back.

 

[Electrobes]

I suspect I may have a too clean tank, especially for the corals I keep. I have a softy dominated tank, and all I feed are spectrum pellets twice a day. I WC every week, run a decent amount of carbon and GFO, plus I turkey baste like crazy trying to rid of the funk tied up in the rocks. I don't, however, have a skimmer. Maybe it just balances out? :smile:

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I hear you guys, I feed my tank quite a bit, my fish are fat and happy. However, my corals have all pretty much matured, filled in the tank so I guess they need more food. I don't feed the tank anything for corals, maybe I'll start doing that. What do you guys recommend? I use to use cyclopeez a while back.

I myself have never fed my corals their own food either besides flakes, pellets, frozen mysis or brine But i have read about reef chili and Reef Snow being pretty good stuff.

 

[CJO]

Definitely a possibility. They need a low amount of nitrates in the water column to look good.

CJ

 

[ReefMP]

Thanks for the input everyone

 

[btkrausen]

If all else fails, you could leave the skimmer on with a lower setting to help increase oxygen into the system. Then when it gets a little dirty, close it down to produce some skimmate.

 

[greg0385]

could you not have your skimmer on a timer or your gfo on one? i have a swc 300 skimmer rated for 500gallons, i only have a 150 with a 75 sump. was told i could put it on a timer to run 20 hours a day. don't see why you couldn't have the reactor pump on a timer to only be on for a certain amount of time. just my opinion, good luck
greg