Hi Juan,
The skimmer's small; only an EV120 but it seems to do the job because there're no nitrates (always less than 0.2 ppm) and phosphates (always less than 0.03 ppm). I did have a 2nd skimmer downstream from the EV, but it never produced skim product so I took it out. Since the numbers have always been good, I haven't upgraded the EV. I run the skimmer wet (weak tea colored skim product) and have to empty it every other day.
The
filter sock is where the overflows dump to the sump (before the skimmer) - and that's only 3 days worth!!!
The tank is stocked lightly; about 3 fish per 100 gals, but the tangs poop a Lot! Also, there's a lot of live rock, so a lot of detritus off the rock. I spend about 2 hours blasting detritus outta the rocks each week and I think that's where most of the detritus comes from. That red stuff in the 32gal trash can is coralline flakes btw.
I'm not sure of anything, but I think that amount of detritus is probably what we all have (proportionate to tank size, amount of rock and livestock). Mine's a big tank, though. I figure if you have 50lbs of LR, you'd have one eighth the detritus?
I'm just grateful that I can see the detritus and get it out!! Imagine that much stuff piling up in a sandbed week after week! Yow!
Thanks, Juan, for your wonderful offer!! If I ever get to PR, I would certainly want to get in touch! Ditto if you're ever in Ca.!
