Do reef tanks really need a filter...?

[WVNed]

A sump is not a filter. It is a place to put things like heaters, skimmers and all manner of other things so they do not take up space in the display tank. It is also a place to create localized moving water that is easy to filter with floss or socks. It can also be used to create a space for something that doesn't like the same amount of flow you have in the main tank.
You can hang all that stuff in the main tank.

 

[Tamberav]

I mean does a tank need a sump or hob or canister AT ALL. As in can I run a tank without a sump, HOB or canister?

No. You don't need a filter. There are successful tanks with just flow and live rock.

I don't know why people are saying you NEED one. Maybe they never tried without?

This is my favorite filterless tank. It is a 75g with no filters or skimmers. No sump. Just flow....rock....light ..and life.

The photos and health of the corals speak for themselves.

Build Thread - WV Reefer’s 75 Gallon Big and Dirty

This tank was established in June 2017 and is about to turn a year old. It was formerly a planted freshwater tank, but then I just had to have another reef so it was converted. :) Build Info- BRS Dry Pukani Rock CaribSea Fiji Pink Sand Equipment: VorTech MP40 x 2 Aqueon Pro 200 Heater...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MERKEY]

Dont think of it as filtering.....

Think of it as nutrient import and export.

How do we want to get rid of what we add during water changes or what our fish release or something like anenome dies or if we over dose for corals or coral warfare.

It helped for me to stop thinking of it as filtering.

Watch your tank and see what kind of export it needs.

Every tank is different and you may not need as much as you think as your tank might not be producing what you think it is.

If you export/remove too much you run into a whole other problem. That's another thread tho

 

[Malifry97]

No. You don't need a filter. There are successful tanks with just flow and live rock.

I don't know why people are saying you NEED one. Maybe they never tried without?

This is my favorite filterless tank. It is a 75g with no filters or skimmers. No sump. Just flow....rock....light ..and life.

The photos and health of the corals speak for themselves.

Build Thread - WV Reefer’s 75 Gallon Big and Dirty

This tank was established in June 2017 and is about to turn a year old. It was formerly a planted freshwater tank, but then I just had to have another reef so it was converted. :) Build Info- BRS Dry Pukani Rock CaribSea Fiji Pink Sand Equipment: VorTech MP40 x 2 Aqueon Pro 200 Heater...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank! I have seen some things like this before and was confused by people saying that I NEEDED one. I’ll do some more research and decide what I want to do!

 

[Malifry97]

Dont think of it as filtering.....

Think of it as nutrient import and export.

How do we want to get rid of what we add during water changes or what our fish release or something like anenome dies or if we over dose for corals or coral warfare.

It helped for me to stop thinking of it as filtering.

Watch your tank and see what kind of export it needs.

Every tank is different and you may not need as much as you think as your tank might not be producing what you think it is.

If you wxport/remove too much you run into a whole other problem. That's another thread tho

Thanks!

 

[MnFish1]

What kind of 'filtration' are you talking about? There is mechanical - Particulate matter (cloudy water), or biologic filtration? If you have enough flow you shouldn't need any 'filter' (I don't use anything except a skimmer) - but a skimmer is not 'a filter' per se.

I also (heresy alert) - dont believe a 'sump' is required or needed (though I have one for aesthetics) - a sump merely increases the total tank volume - and is a place to 'stick things' (skimmers, heaters, etc) out of view.

Now - if you are going the route of live rock and flow - you will likely need to do more water changes than a person who has an algae scrubber or refugium, etc for example. But - If you don't overstock - to make a long story short lol - I dont think you need a mechanical filter in a tank with live rock

 

[MnFish1]

Top off in morning and evening and throughout the day (I or someone else is home everyday)

ok thanks...oxygenation is taken care of by wave makers though.

Here is how I 'top off' - when the return pump starts bubbling - it reminds me to dump (at one time) 5 gallons or so of water into my tank. Usually I keep an eye on it - but sometime it gets away from me. There is not a need for you to monitor your tank every couple hours for salinity.

For a natural example - think of what happens to the salinity in the reef during monsoon season....

 

[Tamberav]

Thank! I have seen some things like this before and was confused by people saying that I NEEDED one. I’ll do some more research and decide what I want to do!

Live rock is a filter and holds the biological bacteria. When coral grows is uses up Nitrate and PO4 so healthy growing coral in itself is helpful. Otherwise just water changes to remove waste and replenish elements.

Go slow and stock slowly...live rock would also be helpful instead of dry. Let the tank adjust and get corals growing to act as your filter.

 

[Malifry97]

Live rock is a filter and holds the biological bacteria. When coral grows is uses up Nitrate and PO4 so healthy growing coral in itself is helpful. Otherwise just water changes to remove waste and replenish elements.

Go slow and stock slowly...live rock would also be helpful instead of dry. Let the tank adjust and get corals growing to act as your filter.

OK, Thanks!

 

[Malifry97]

Here is how I 'top off' - when the return pump starts bubbling - it reminds me to dump (at one time) 5 gallons or so of water into my tank. Usually I keep an eye on it - but sometime it gets away from me. There is not a need for you to monitor your tank every couple hours for salinity.

For a natural example - think of what happens to the salinity in the reef during monsoon season....

THANKS!

 

[Malifry97]

What kind of 'filtration' are you talking about? There is mechanical - Particulate matter (cloudy water), or biologic filtration? If you have enough flow you shouldn't need any 'filter' (I don't use anything except a skimmer) - but a skimmer is not 'a filter' per se.

I also (heresy alert) - dont believe a 'sump' is required or needed (though I have one for aesthetics) - a sump merely increases the total tank volume - and is a place to 'stick things' (skimmers, heaters, etc) out of view.

Now - if you are going the route of live rock and flow - you will likely need to do more water changes than a person who has an algae scrubber or refugium, etc for example. But - If you don't overstock - to make a long story short lol - I dont think you need a mechanical filter in a tank with live rock

Thanks for the Info!

 

[Fourstars]

No filter needed as long as your starting with live rock.

 

[Zuma]

Good live rock and water circulation is really all you need if you’re fish load is reasonable.

 

[DSC reef]

36 bow front, some softies and maybe LPS. Light stocking (3 PJ cardinals, and two clowns?)

Ran a 36 bow front without a sump but used a hob filter and hob skimmer. It can be done but was a bit more work compared to other tanks with a sump. I'd still recommend testing the big 3 even with weekly water changes.

 

[Malifry97]

Ran a 36 bow front without a sump but used a hob filter and hob skimmer. It can be done but was a bit more work compared to other tanks with a sump. I'd still recommend testing the big 3 even with weekly water changes.

OK thanks!

 

[Nano sapiens]

As you've probably noted already, a mechanical filter is not required. Whether one is used, or not, is more of personal choice dictated in part by what type of reef system you would like to have (heavy fish/bioload vs. light is a good example where a mechanical filter, cleaned regularly, can be helpful in exporting waste before it breaks down in the system).

 

[Malifry97]

As you've probably noted already, a mechanical filter is not required. Whether one is used, or not, is more of personal choice dictated in part by what type of reef system you would like to have (heavy fish/bioload vs. light is a good example where a mechanical filter, cleaned regularly, can be helpful in exporting waste before it breaks down in the system).

Thanks!

 

[Malifry97]

THANK YOU! Thanks for all the great Info!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

There's 1001 ways to keep a healthy reef. I think the important thing is to think through your approach and know why you're doing what you're doing and how your system functions as a whole.

 

[Malifry97]

There's 1001 ways to keep a healthy reef. I think the important thing is to think through your approach and know why you're doing what you're doing and how your system functions as a whole.

Thanks for the insight!