Are mechanical filtration contraproductive?

[betareef]

I ran a large tank for many years, with no filter media, however, I did arrange for the sump to have a large area where the water flow was slow and non-turbulent, across the top of a still area. Small particles fell out of suspension and gathered in the still area in the sump, and that's all that was needed. Fish load was low to medium, and the tank was clear - always.

In smaller nano tanks, I do use some filter medium, but not too fine - never floss/wool.

 

[Freenow54]

Not Randy, but I think this addresses the topic in the detail you're looking for, but happens to focus on everyone's favorite pest "algae", Dino's. (It does not specifically address tank life, but still is worth look IMO.)

The role of nutrients in decomposition of a thecate dinoflagellate.

That may not be satisfying even though they get to specific numbers that you can infer quite a bit from (see the magnitude of nutrients that get consumed on the way out of a dino bloom)....I think if you feed this title into Google Scholar and look at related articles you'll find a lot more.

Actually I found Goggle has become archaic . I if you have Microsoft use Co-Pilot it is an AI platform. Saves you from endlessly trying to " trim " your search criteria. It or maybe other AI platforms is probably a collection of information fed to it by nerdy people who do it for a living. Just the type you need. It will offer to delve deeper into a subject or you can ask more questions. I used it for help to install a UV light. It only needed the make of pump and light explained everything mapped out the plumbing and told me things I would have never known , Such as installing a flow valve between the pump and the light. It apparently shocks the pump . Just a suggestion

 

[Louis Z]

easier to manage with a small bio load . If you have a lot of coral . Many excess waste including the small particles can be uptaken by them, the issue is to keep particles in suspension and not letting them accumulate in the main tank .

So for whatever mechanical filter you want to eliminate , you would need to replace it with a biological control . Don’t want a skimmer and want to remove DOC , then alternatives would be clams, oyster , sponges .

If you don’t want filter socks then filter feeding organisms and a sump which can contain multiple chambers where particulates can drop out and not be recirculated back into main aquarium. If you have organisms that can eat particulates and poop them smaller sizes . Eventually the micro fauna will keep producing smaller and smaller waste . That being said you have to supply and culture those organisms . Crabs, shrimps snails , conchs, cucumbers , copepods, amphipods sponges

Want to eliminate NH4 and subsequent nitrogen compounds . Most already have live rock . Most have macroalgae . Some have mangroves . Some use live phyto . . One can have a mud bed where those end products can be reduced to nitrogen gas

The higher the bio load the more you need to have . You may not eliminate every by product but water change , carbon , and diatom filter can assist in keeping water quality up .

My list is not complete and some organisms are not easy to culture . I can look through the side of my tank to see how clear it is . White light will show how yellow your water is . Those are my indicators . I hate filter socks so I got away from them many years ago . I had a skimmer for a long time but pump gave out . I don’t want to keep purchasing needle wheel pumps .

 

[JonasRoman]

This is my tank with no filter. Dont know if video is representative. Please look in 4K.

 

[MBruun]

I run a roller filter but bypass some of the water by a T-piece just before gate valve on the drain pipe, and I can adjust the amount of water bypassed by a valve.
As I have a high bio load, and high inorganic phosphate level, I fear for rising / excess nutrient levels if I remove the mechanical filtration, so this is my approach to only filter some of the water.

 

[Freenow54]

This is my tank with no filter. Dont know if video is representative. Please look in 4K.

amazing thanks

 

[JonasRoman]

amazing thanks

Thank you so much

 

[VintageReefer]

I don’t use any mechanical filtration in my reef. I have a build thread filled with pics and repeat questions I get asked are along the lines of
“how do I get my water so clear?”
“How am I getting rid of the particles in the water?”

 

[Freenow54]

From an Article from Miami reef about Dino's

, and a picture of the filter that can look like this daily. So please comment as I am interested not being argumentative. One thing I noticed is the very high flow in the video. Is this key?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am interested to know your approach then if you don't mind sharing

My husbandry is all documented in my tank thread, but the “filtration” methods include growing macroalgae is large refugia, skimming, and GAC. :)

 

[atoll]

Old thread but thought I would attach my recent post link to it showing my sump now
Thread 'A result of no mechanical filtration.' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a-result-of-no-mechanical-filtration.1159903/

 

[Freenow54]

Lol! I've used sulfur denitrators, skimmers, large UV sterilizers, algae scrubbers, etc., etc., but for $15-bucks, this is my best pound-for-pound secret weapon:

You can even get it cheaper at a fabric store. $20 C I have enough for 3-4 months