I recently was told that I need to remove my undergravel filter from my 29 gallon reef tank. I have had problems with nuisance algaes and high nitrates and phospates ever since I converted to a reef tank. I was told that since I added live rock I don't need an undergravel filter for biological filtration. The reason I have algae blooms is because the live rock clogs up the undergravel filter allowing for elevated phospate and nitrate levels. It took me a long time to try and figure out this problem and I think I have the answer. I am ripping out the UGF and adding one inch of live sand. Also I am going to add about 15 more pounds of live rock just to make sure I have optimum biological filtration. I will also have a protein skimmer in the tank running one day every 3 days. It will be somewhat like a berlin system. I have heard that these tanks are usually great setups. Do you think this will work? Later on when I can afford it I am going to add a 10 gallon refugium under my tank with a deepsand bed and lots of macroalgae, since macroalgae is really good at removing phospathes and nitrates.

BTW
I will get a pic of the tank as soon as possible of my reef. It is completely different. New aquascaping, new corals, new fish, almost new every thing. It looks way better than before.

Cheers! :bye:

Sounds good, but why not run the skimmer 24/7 Seems pointless to only run it every three days when you can run it all the time.