Can I make due without chemical media?

[Mechagodzilla]

I was just wondering if it’s wise to run my tank without chemical media.

Okay so I got a 30 gallon tank with a hangon diy refugium(Light running during the night of coarse), canister filter with pads at the bottom, biological media in the middle and chemical media (chemi pure and GFO). I also have a surface skimmer. No sump or protein skimmer.

I use tap water when doing my saltwater mix. Using an orbit current led light.

I got it stocked with 3 clownfish, a Molly and snail/hermit crab cleanup crew.

I got rose anemone, Sunkist, leather and finger toadstools, zoas, some purple mushrooms, frogspawn, acropora, Kenya trees, blasto, monti, favia, gap,and chalise. No visible aptasia, peppermint shrimp took them out.

So everything is growing and healthy looking (except for one of my acropora’s, it must of got into it with my zoa’s), I know I’m doing a lot of no-no’s, but I’m cheap. My question is, Can I cut out the chemical media and just run more biological or is chemical media that important?

 

[Waters]

You only need chemical media if your water chemistry calls for it. Media such as GFO and Carbon are just tools to keep water parameters in check and looking good. Your refugium is actually helping to perform that role right now. With that sized tank, water changes alone could easily be enough but only testing (and visual observation) will tell you for sure.

 

[Bosreef]

If i was running tap water, and a canister filter I would not no.

 

[SDK]

If you are using tap water, nobody here can give you a definitive answer to this question without knowing what’s in your source water. Also note that impurities in your tap that are not causing visible trouble now, can build up over time and be a problem down the line..

If you are on a budget, the chemical media is cheap insurance until you are ready for an RO/DI unit.

I personally would keep an eye open for an inexpensive, used RODI unit, and call the cost for the chemical media money well spent until you find one. Once you have the unit, the filter cartridges for an RO/DI will be not much different in cost to monthly replacement of the better chemical media bags.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

If you are using tap water, nobody here can give you a definitive answer to this question without knowing what’s in your source water. Also note that impurities in your tap that are not causing visible trouble now, can build up over time and be a problem down the line..

If you are on a budget, the chemical media is cheap insurance until you are ready for an RO/DI unit.

I personally would keep an eye open for an inexpensive, used RODI unit, and call the cost for the chemical media money well spent until you find one. Once you have the unit, the filter cartridges for an RO/DI will be not much different in cost to monthly replacement of the better chemical media bags.

What can the impurities in the tap water do to the overall health of the aquarium? Could it lead to a crash possibly?

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

What can the impurities in the tap water do to the overall health of the aquarium? Could it lead to a crash possibly?

Tap water can contain nitrates/phosphates and silicates that can result in algae issues. Lead, copper and iron in tap water can build up and lead to a tank coral crash

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What can the impurities in the tap water do to the overall health of the aquarium? Could it lead to a crash possibly?

Copper can kill the invertebrates. EPA allows way too much copper in drinking water to be OK for a reef.

But how much is there depends on your water supply, and mostly, on your pipes.

If you do use tap water, flush out your pipes before collecting it. Mains aren't usually copper, but the water sitting in your own pipes can dissolve substantial copper as it sits in them (if they are copper).