rotarygeek
Member
just a quick qeustion, when can i get rid of my mechanical filtration? if i have 56 pounds of live/base rock in my 30 gallon tank, and enough flow to keep up the 20x rate, is it ok to not even have a mechanical filter?
when can i ditch my mechanical filtration?
- Thread starter rotarygeek
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perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2549655
just a quick qeustion, when can i get rid of my mechanical filtration? if i have 56 pounds of live/base rock in my 30 gallon tank, and enough flow to keep up the 20x rate, is it ok to not even have a mechanical filter?
Sure if you have enough bacteria built up on your LR. How long has the tank been set up? I run my tank with just a skimmer and power heads in the DT.
http:///forum/post/2549655
just a quick qeustion, when can i get rid of my mechanical filtration? if i have 56 pounds of live/base rock in my 30 gallon tank, and enough flow to keep up the 20x rate, is it ok to not even have a mechanical filter?
Sure if you have enough bacteria built up on your LR. How long has the tank been set up? I run my tank with just a skimmer and power heads in the DT.
rotarygeek
Member
only about 4 months now. 40 pounds of base rock got added a couple days ago, so i know its way too soon to be thinking about this. but i was also wondering about if it is a problem not having a sump/refugium or a skimmer. basically later on down the line i want to run 100 bio filter. no skimmer, no HOB filter, no nothing. just powerheads and my heater. is it possible?0
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2549683
only about 4 months now. 40 pounds of base rock got added a couple days ago, so i know its way too soon to be thinking about this. but i was also wondering about if it is a problem not having a sump/refugium or a skimmer. basically later on down the line i want to run 100 bio filter. no skimmer, no HOB filter, no nothing. just powerheads and my heater. is it possible?0
Its possible but not recomended IMO, I would at least have a skimmer. I run minimal filtration myself but I do run a skimmer and a sponge to trap detritus and other particultes from accumulating and creating issues.
Keep in mind the issues with our tanks is they are not self suffiecient as we think they should be, they are more like land fills and its our job not to let the waste get to hazardous levels.
http:///forum/post/2549683
only about 4 months now. 40 pounds of base rock got added a couple days ago, so i know its way too soon to be thinking about this. but i was also wondering about if it is a problem not having a sump/refugium or a skimmer. basically later on down the line i want to run 100 bio filter. no skimmer, no HOB filter, no nothing. just powerheads and my heater. is it possible?0
Its possible but not recomended IMO, I would at least have a skimmer. I run minimal filtration myself but I do run a skimmer and a sponge to trap detritus and other particultes from accumulating and creating issues.
Keep in mind the issues with our tanks is they are not self suffiecient as we think they should be, they are more like land fills and its our job not to let the waste get to hazardous levels.
rotarygeek
Member
yeah well i was considering this because in a 30 gallon, having two powerheads, a heater, and a filter looks cluttered and unnatural. maybe someday ill put a real stand under it and add a sump/refugium. and since this is my first saltwater tank, im pretty sure i wont be able to help myself and ill end up pushing the limit on my bioload, so maybe this isnt a great idea for me. but right now im just picking peoples brains, thanks for all the info.
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2549835
yeah well i was considering this because in a 30 gallon, having two powerheads, a heater, and a filter looks cluttered and unnatural. maybe someday ill put a real stand under it and add a sump/refugium. and since this is my first saltwater tank, im pretty sure i wont be able to help myself and ill end up pushing the limit on my bioload, so maybe this isnt a great idea for me. but right now im just picking peoples brains, thanks for all the info.
I also have a 36gal bow front, I painted the back of it black and I am using a HOB refugium, there is some visible equipent in the back but its not too bad IMO.
My cube tank is the one I run with just a little skimmer, and 2 internal power heads and thats all.
http:///forum/post/2549835
yeah well i was considering this because in a 30 gallon, having two powerheads, a heater, and a filter looks cluttered and unnatural. maybe someday ill put a real stand under it and add a sump/refugium. and since this is my first saltwater tank, im pretty sure i wont be able to help myself and ill end up pushing the limit on my bioload, so maybe this isnt a great idea for me. but right now im just picking peoples brains, thanks for all the info.
I also have a 36gal bow front, I painted the back of it black and I am using a HOB refugium, there is some visible equipent in the back but its not too bad IMO.
My cube tank is the one I run with just a little skimmer, and 2 internal power heads and thats all.
rotarygeek
Member
sorry for an off topic question, but yesterday i added a clownfish and a coral banded shrimp to my tank and today i have an ammonia spike and my nitrates are about 25 to 30. should i tough it out and not do a water change or should i do it soon.
michaeltx
Moderator
Originally Posted by RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2549959
sorry for an off topic question, but yesterday i added a clownfish and a coral banded shrimp to my tank and today i have an ammonia spike and my nitrates are about 25 to 30. should i tough it out and not do a water change or should i do it soon.
do one soon you will have a small spike n ammonia everytime you add something but it is a quick thing. since you have 25-30 nitrates you are deffinately reading for a water change anyway its best to try to keep this number as close to 0 as possible.
Mike
http:///forum/post/2549959
sorry for an off topic question, but yesterday i added a clownfish and a coral banded shrimp to my tank and today i have an ammonia spike and my nitrates are about 25 to 30. should i tough it out and not do a water change or should i do it soon.
do one soon you will have a small spike n ammonia everytime you add something but it is a quick thing. since you have 25-30 nitrates you are deffinately reading for a water change anyway its best to try to keep this number as close to 0 as possible.
Mike