Bang-Mechanical Filtration

6stokes

6stokes

Member
I once heard you say that you detest mechanical filtration. I was wondering if it is okay to eliminate mine. To make a long story short, I was set up originally as fish only so I still have a closed loop filtration system that has containers for mechanical filters. I'm currently using very course foam filters and have to clean them about every five days to keep the flow good. They are only slightly plugged with what I would call skimmate looking stuff. I need to increase my circulation in a couple of spots in the tank. I'm currently at 21 turns, but want to increase flow in a couple of dead spots. I will be converting to a sump in about 6-8 months, but in the mean time, a short term fix while still utilizing what I have would be to remove the canisters for additional flow. I don't want to add another power head, besides they keep adding heat to the tank.
So, here's what I have in the tank:
135 gallon
Yellow tang
Diamond goby (trying to remove due to live deep sand bed)
Coral Beauty
Flame Hawk
2- Ocsellaris clowns
Cleaner wrasse (they should call it cleaner "harass")
Hippo tang
Fox face rabbit
Rock anemone
Purple tipped anemone
Lots of softies and LPS
4- tube worms and 1- coco
Lots of scarlett hermits and various snails
The entire back wall of Live Rock about 3/4 the way up.
And besides the DSB, I have two fluidized bed filters.
My nitrates are always zero.
So Bang or anyone else with an opinion on removing mechanical filtration, will I be okay? :thinking:
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
With the foam in there I'm surprised you are able to keep a Coco Worm alive. Perhaps you're doing OK.
Without the mechanical filtration you're going to notice a lot of particles in the water column until your filter feeders increase their populations. You'll also notice more life in your DSB.
Critical factors for removing mechanical filtration is that you need a darn good skimmer and a whole lot of water flow.
If you can put up with the temporary increase in particulate matter then I'd say go for the removal.
 
6stokes

6stokes

Member
Wow, I didn't know coco worms were so sensitive. Why would the foam filters affect the coco worm though? Also, unfortunately I only have the prizm skimmers. Two though, rated at 100 gallons each. I'm planning on getting a good one when I switch to the sump. Is that a show stopper?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Coco worms feed on the small larvae that your foam filters are removing from the water column. Perhape the openings are coarse enough to allow them through.
How long have you had it?
 
6stokes

6stokes

Member
At this point of tank maturity I only get about 1/4 of the collection cups full a week. So does that mean good water quality or bad skimming quality? Do you mean if they produce a lot, then they aren't keeping up with the tank needs?
 
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