Just curious

[debbie]

Just curious about a friend whom removed her canister filter off her 72 gal tank and is just running a protein skimmer and powerhead for this tank. It is heavily stocked with rock, corals and fish. How long can something like this run for before problems happen??
She removed the canister filter as she read they do no good but harbour nitrate problems.
Just curious

 

[spanko]

I have seen smaller, 15 gallons and less, tanks run with no mechanical filters. A lot of water changes and low bio load were the keys to these tanks. I would not think that a tank of this size and if it is heavily stocked with fish would last too long though. Don't know for sure. Maybe some other members here are doing this. Let's see who adds some infor here.

 

[deejeff442]

i have only run a skimmer and lr on all my tanks for over 25 yrs.
i used to neglect water changes and that only effected the corals.
now i have a great system for water changes.
i dont see a need for a mechanical filter other than a skimmer.
my 90 gallon ran for over 10 yrs with no skimmer and 60 lbs of lr.
it had 6 fish and a few were 5 inches .
i do run phosphate remover and carbon though and i always set up a sump.
if the rock is old and the tank is running for 2 yrs+ i wouldnt worry about a mechanicl system.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3003774
i have only run a skimmer and lr on all my tanks for over 25 yrs.
i used to neglect water changes and that only effected the corals.
now i have a great system for water changes.
i dont see a need for a mechanical filter other than a skimmer.
my 90 gallon ran for over 10 yrs with no skimmer and 60 lbs of lr.
it had 6 fish and a few were 5 inches .
i do run phosphate remover and carbon though and i always set up a sump.
if the rock is old and the tank is running for 2 yrs+ i wouldnt worry about a mechanicl system.

Wow- I am impressed. Not that brave, but impressed. 25 yrs experiance and and 10 yrs with the 90.
I'm glad your hanging out around here for folks like me to learn from.

 

[deejeff442]

went from a 45 to a 90 to a 150 now a 225 .
i remember when a skimmer was a tube with an airstone in it.
dont give me too much credit i am still trying to figure out how to put seaweed in the tank without getting bit by my trigger again.
i do believe that alot of lr is key.

 

[coralreefer]

Originally Posted by Debbie
http:///forum/post/3003734
Just curious about a friend whom removed her canister filter off her 72 gal tank and is just running a protein skimmer and powerhead for this tank. It is heavily stocked with rock, corals and fish. How long can something like this run for before problems happen??
She removed the canister filter as she read they do no good but harbour nitrate problems.
Just curious

that is exactly what i did, literally exactly and i have no problems, but my skimmer has a filter sock