Unfiltered tank?

[zdrc]

I have a 12 gallon aquapod AIO with florida live rock (~10-15 lbs), a tailspot blenny, and a yellow clown goby. For corals it has a variety of LPS and soft corals. In addition I have a variety of inverts.

I've struggled with low nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) for the entire time the tank is set up. In the back of the AIO I just have some coarse sponge, a heater, and a return pump.

I wanted to approximately double the volume of the tank (20-25 gallons or so), and I'm not super pleased with the AIO available in this size range. A peninsula wouldn't work in the space I would put the tank in and everything else just feels like the back of the tank is wasted space considering I would be putting almost nothing back there.

Does anyone know of AIO tanks in this size range with a partial AIO back?

I've heard of people running filterless tanks (still with plenty of water movement of course!). How feasible is this?

How difficult would it be for me to DIY an AIO compartment?

 

[Subsea]

Define filterless.

This tank is sumpless & skimmerless and HOB AQUACLEAR 70 and has been set up for 2 years

 

[Alexraptor]

Well I've had this 15g running for 6 over 6 years with nothing but a single stream pump, so definitely more than feasible.

I just do weekly 20% water changes, and on occasion run a standard power filter a few hours afterwards, if i've stirred up a lot of crap that wasn't removed in the water change.

 

[FunWithFishes]

I just set up a small 10g with my planned cleaning schedule being the same as yours. Happy to see one look so successful, gives me inspiration!

 

[Timfish]

Corals and cryptic sponges and clams are the filters on reefs. A simple DIY acrylic box siliconed into a corner or backside is all you need if you really want to go that way. But a successful reef only needs good lighting and good waterflow for the corals. Here's an eight foot long system that didn't have any external or internal filtration, just a couple power heads and air lines.



Everything was lost in teh 2021 freeze but it had been running for over 12 years.

 

[vlangel]

I also run a tank with just the bio filter of rock, sand and macroalgae/ coral. I have a sump/fuge but it does not use socks, or skimmers. It's 7 years old and is the prettiest, and easiest tank I have ever had in my 25+ years of reefing.

 

[GARRIGA]

Sometimes custom only option when seeking something being specific yet off the shelf unlikely. Might be cheaper then trying to make work with available. Plus get it exactly as wanted. Want AIO but not enough gap with back or side sump then have them make that portion wider.