Do reef tanks really need a filter...?

[bobyboy]

For a reef tank a filter isn’t a single piece of equipment, the filter for your reef tank is comprised of the sump and equipment housed in the sump.

The debate about what equipment is required is as old as the hobby but it the minimum you need a way to remove Lolita ya from the tank either with mechanical or biological filtration methods!

Skimmer, filter socks, bio-media, chaeto, UV; these are all parts of the sump and filter different pollutants from the tank.

 

[Malifry97]

My next question would be if the water is this clear without a filter how does the filter do anything but make more work and expense for you.
On my freshwater tanks I used HOBs, sponges, under gravel, reverse under gravel, canisters, diatom and a few filters I made myself. It was a while before I realized I didn't need them anymore when I went to salt.
I run a skimmer because I have a lot of fish. You can do without that if you can keep the bio load down.

Thanks for the pictures and reassurance!

 

[van7271]

What do you mean by filter?

I do zero mechanical filtration other than my protein skimmer.

All bits, pieces, critters etc are free to flow through the tank & sump (multiple tanks on 1 sump too).

I've never seen a need to mechanically filter anything out of the water column except when doing brand new sand - THAT cloudy mess needs a filter sock or something to help clear up.

I want to add more sand to my tank. Established for years now. Just want to top off. Question, do you add live Sand and is so what kind?

 

[Malifry97]

I want to add more sand to my tank. Established for years now. Just want to top off. Question, do you add live Sand and is so what kind?

If I was you...since the tank is established...I would just heavily rinse some dry sand and add it in!