Yet another roller mat fleece advance question

[Ziggy17]

So I’ve set up my RS 500 and it’s using about 30” daily. Has the reefing community come together on a single best practice for the fleece advance length? I’ve read 12” once a day, to 4” advancement multiple times. I can see the advantage/disadvantage to both scenarios.

The Two scenarios

12” daily- wouldn’t the fleece dirty up quite quickly and bypass long before the next scheduled advancement?

4” increments- does this lead to much lower nutrients and uses up fleece far faster than needed?

I’m hoping to draw on experience to make my life easier from jump street with this kit.

Cheers

 

[Hemmbone20]

So I’ve set up my RS 500 and it’s using about 30” daily. Has the reefing community come together on a single best practice for the fleece advance length? I’ve read 12” once a day, to 4” advancement multiple times. I can see the advantage/disadvantage to both scenarios.

The Two scenarios

12” daily- wouldn’t the fleece dirty up quite quickly and bypass long before the next scheduled advancement?

4” increments- does this lead to much lower nutrients and uses up fleece far faster than needed?

I’m hoping to draw on experience to make my life easier from jump street with this kit.

Cheers

Why don’t you just let it auto advance? If you try to do it manually won’t it eventually just spill over defeating the whole purpose?

Mine goes automatically and the amount fluctuates.. during algae blooms it’ll consume a little more.
After a water change it’ll consume a little less. Balances out.

 

[Ziggy17]

Why don’t you just let it auto advance? If you try to do it manually won’t it eventually just spill over defeating the whole purpose?

Mine goes automatically and the amount fluctuates.. during algae blooms it’ll consume a little more.
After a water change it’ll consume a little less. Balances out.

12” in a single change once a day acts more like a filter sock and presumably allows more nutrients. It’s still automatic, just scheduled for a specific time rather than using the water sensor.

That is why I’m looking for feedback on people using both. But I’m hoping to hear from folks who are paying attention to what either method does with their nutrients. That’s how I will base which direction I go.

 

[Hemmbone20]

12” in a single change once a day acts more like a filter sock and presumably allows more nutrients. It’s still automatic, just scheduled for a specific time rather than using the water sensor.

That is why I’m looking for feedback on people using both. But I’m hoping to hear from folks who are paying attention to what either method does with their nutrients. That’s how I will base which direction I go.

Oh I see… my mistake.
So you’re ok with it spilling over once it’s caught its max amount?

 

[slingfox]

I let my Reefmat 1200 auto advance in 1.5" increments. I used to do the smallest possible increments but I don't believe running the motor constantly is great for equipment longevity.

My tank is only a year old and I feed my 27 fish 5x a day (4x pellets via autofeeder and once frozen by hand) which results in 0.35 ppm phosphate and 2 ppm nitrate. Most of my fish are small including a swarm of 11 blue green chromis. It would be nice to have lower phosphates but my coral seem to be doing fine.

Mat usage averages around 16" a day on my 138 gallon system.

 

[Ziggy17]

Oh I see… my mistake.
So you’re ok with it spilling over once it’s caught its max amount?

If it’s only a cpl hours at night after the last feed I would be. That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. If it’s catching the food but between 2200-400 it’s bypassing, that’s cool. Just trying to find out what others have done.

 

[Ziggy17]

I let my Reefmat 1200 auto advance in 1.5" increments. I used to do the smallest possible increments but I don't believe running the motor constantly is great for equipment longevity.

My tank is only a year old and I feed my 27 fish 5x a day (4x pellets via autofeeder and once frozen by hand) which results in 0.35 ppm phosphate and 2 ppm nitrate. Most of my fish are small including a swarm of 11 blue green chromis. It would be nice to have lower phosphates but my coral seem to be doing fine.

Mat usage averages around 16" a day on my 138 gallon system.

I’m double that usage already. Granted I may be dealing with algae but I’d like to get mine as efficient as possible. Just trying to see what others sweet spots are