reef tank without a filter

[brent245]

But what about the clean up crews poo? The poo still turns to nitrate. If you Have good water flow and your filter is catching alot of the crud, And you clean that filter WEEKLY, you are removing that waste from the nitrogen cycle, which would mean less nitrates in the end.

If you don't have a filter and all the detritus and poo just decomposes in the tank, you would end up with more nitrates in the end yes?

In defense of the pro non filter people, i will say that if you are overfeeding and alot of food is sucked into your filter then YES it will become a nitrate factory if you never clean your filter, but then again if you are cleaning it weekly you are removing the waste from the system.

I don't really know whats best, but logically if you remove decomposing material from the system before it turns to nitrate you undoubtedly end up with less nitrate in your tank.

 

[brent245]

Whatever you do, I wouldn't just shut down the filters cold turkey, you might end up with a mini cycle or something. If you decide to go filterless, shut one down at a time and wait a couple weeks.

 

[Heathd]

I have a no filter tank

DSB, LR, planted fuge, and good flow. No skimmer or mechanical filter. I dose carbon once a week for 24 hours.

 

[dreamandscheme]

well i have yet to set anything up, just doing research. the tank i have is only a 30g hex does size matter if i do decide to go filter less? should i cycle the tank w/filter then remove if i decide to go this way. and does light matter when deciding to go filter less? i already have a marineland hob and cascade 700 canister. just trying to figure the best way to set up a mini reef. any input is appreciated

 

[Heathd]

But what about the clean up crews poo? The poo still turns to nitrate. If you Have good water flow and your filter is catching alot of the crud, And you clean that filter WEEKLY, you are removing that waste from the nitrogen cycle, which would mean less nitrates in the end.

If you don't have a filter and all the detritus and poo just decomposes in the tank, you would end up with more nitrates in the end yes?

In defense of the pro non filter people, i will say that if you are overfeeding and alot of food is sucked into your filter then YES it will become a nitrate factory if you never clean your filter, but then again if you are cleaning it weekly you are removing the waste from the system. Poor husbandry always causes problems, regardless of what you are using. Thats not the filters fault, its the operators fault. People knock on canisters for saltwater use, and while I am not a fan of cannisters in general, they are still very effective. When cleaned properly, there is nothing wrong with them.

I don't really know whats best, but logically if you remove decomposing material from the system before it turns to nitrate you undoubtedly end up with less nitrate in your tank. Thats true, but nitrates arent really a problem. There are natural ways to remove nitrates.

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[Heathd]

well i have yet to set anything up, just doing research. the tank i have is only a 30g hex does size matter if i do decide to go filter less? should i cycle the tank w/filter then remove if i decide to go this way. and does light matter when deciding to go filter less? i already have a marineland hob and cascade 700 canister. just trying to figure the best way to set up a mini reef. any input is appreciated

Filter-less like mine? Well, you can hit stability issues in smaller systems. Its not the way to go if its your first time doing salt because it can give you headaches when you first start.

What model is the marineland filter?

The cascade will be fine. Just clean your mechanical pad if you choose to use it. I would definitely remove any of the biological stuff and replace it with LR.

Pick up some good power heads and aim them in such a manner that stuff will stay suspended in the water for as long as possible, that way the cannister can pick it up.

If you dont want to drop the money on a skimmer just yet but are unsure if the cannister will cut it, then just use what you have and see how it works out for you.

 

[Cliff519]

well i have yet to set anything up, just doing research. Just trying to figure the best way to set up a mini reef. any input is appreciated

Good call on the research. Do as much research as possible. In a reef tank you want the lowest nitrate level possible. What ever approach you chose (filter or live rock) just make sure you do yuo home-work first, find out what it takes for each approach to be successful, and pick the one that suits YOU best.

You'll have to find what works best for you and your tank. There's a lot of threads here as well that talk about filter ad non filter set-ups, like the below thread

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136531

I'd love to see some picks when you have your set-up

 

[wolfsburgfanatic]

Whatever you do, I wouldn't just shut down the filters cold turkey, you might end up with a mini cycle or something. If you decide to go filterless, shut one down at a time and wait a couple weeks.

x2

IMO, if you're planning on running a "natual method" tank with no filters, don't start off with a filter. You want the BB to colonize your rock and sandbed, not the filter media you will be discarding.

dreamandscheme, if you haven't already I'd highly recommend checking out Bob Fenner's book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". Its probably the best purchase I made in preparing for my first saltwater tank. Loads of information from one of the most knowledgable people in the hobby

 

[Zoodiver]

Let's be careful with terms "NO FILTER" isn't acutally happening. In a healthy reef tank you'll have/need biological filtration and mechanical filtration.

Live rock, sand and anything with surface area that is wet will provide space for bacteria to grow on - creating your BIOLOGICAL filter.

The pt skimmer is your MECHANICAL filter. It's pulling out particulates and anything that that would be quickly breaking down creating ammonia/nitrate problems.

 

[Racerotica]

wish you were closer