nano tank filtration

[reef_addict]

Is anyone running a tank without a filter of any kind?

Are you doing just water changes?(daily/weekly/bi-weekly?)

How long as the tank been running?

Has anyone tried and failed?

How big is the tank?

I've also read that protein skimmers tend to remove more good the
bad. True/false?



Thanks for any answers -Brian

 

[incysor]

I've also read that protein skimmers tend to remove more good the
bad. True/false?

Thanks for any answers -Brian

False.
The only thing that a skimmer pulls out that's good is phytoplankton. If you're doing a reef that's heavy on fine filter feeders like young clams then you should turn it off for a couple hours after dosing the tank with phyto.

B

 

[shaggydoo541]

I run a tank w/o a skimmer or filter. I have had a lot of success so far. I am keeping corals that tend to like nutrient rich water such as LPS and various softies. If I was going to keep SPS though I would definitely get a skimmer. No one really knows exactly what is pulled out from a skimmer (at least not everything). It pulls out lots of stuff both good and bad but for the most part they are beneficial. A couple good articles I've read about skimming are;

http://web.archive.org/web/200103090549 ... mers2.html (explains how skimmers function)

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.htm (read myth 17 about how its possible to overskim)

 

[incysor]

A lot of folks running nanos don't bother with skimmers. This is very doable with a nano, because by it's nature they should be very lightly stocked, and weekly or bi-weekly water changes of 10%-20% should be done. Most people with larger tanks simply can't keep up with that kind of water change schedule, and they tend to add more fish than you do with a nano, so skimmers become important.

B

 

[reef_addict]

I understand the use and need for a skimmer. I've been reading about nano setups and it seems that a lot of them are setup without filters/skimmers. I was just trying to figure out if beause of the amount of water changes the tanks just don't need any filtration or due to the amount of "life" in the tank and how it can filter the tank on its own.

-Brian

 

[incysor]

I think it has to do with low bioloads and more water changes than are done with normal tanks. I don't see why you couldn't run a tank without any filtration and just regular water changes. But filtration is very cheap for a nano, so I don't see any reason to skip it, since it does add to the stability of the sytem, and can give you a few more days grace period between water changes if you get busy or forget, or whatever.

B

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Agreed. I ran skimmerless for the first 2 1/2 years on several tanks, but did run a HOB filter for added flow and for a place to run carbon. It's definitely doable to run without the HOB or skimmer, but personally, I like to run carbon, so I use a HOB. It also depends on the bioload you have in the tank as to how much skimate would be produced if a skimmer is in place. The same holds true for running a poly/carbon pad. You'd be amazed at how much funk is collected on the poly/carbon pad in my tanks in a weeks time. If I weren't running anything to catch that, it would simply pile up as detritus in the tank, potentially leading to an elevated nitrate level over time, unless it's syphoned out. Just something to think about.

 

[reef_addict]

What would be the largest tank you would run without a filter? I was given a 29g with oak stand and hood. I have a 150g wet/dry on it that has been setup freshwater for my son. After moving this fall my wife said we should put it in the living room and set it up as a reef tank. I will most likely run the w/d but, was just curious as to the filterless tanks.

 

[incysor]

How many and what type of fish you do plan to have in it? If you're only gonna have 1-2 small fish, then a 3g water change weekly would probably take care of your waste export for this sized tank. However if you plan on having 5-6, and/or would rather do a monthly water change not a weekly one, I'd go ahead and use the wet/dry.

B