No more filter roller mat

[Nordy]

Have a 158.5 gallon Red Sea AIO. I like to use media reactors and have a few running all the time. UVC sterilizer running 12 hours daily. There’s a mangrove/chaeto refugium, good skimmer, and I have lots of various Filter feeders: Porcelian crabs, Tunicates, Crocea clams, a Deresa clam, sponges, and mixed corals. I went overboard on rock aquascaping and porous bacteria holding cubes and Seachem Matrix media in the sump. So biological filtration with bacteria and sea life is what I strive for. I have a sleeper goby always sand sifting and I’m purposeful on inhabitants that do work. CUC, two tangs, going to get a Rabbit fish soon. So my bio load is pretty high, and I use a lot of phytoplanktons, aminos, and coral foods lights out, with filtration off a while, especially after my UV sterilizer is no longer running. Things are great now, water looks good, Tank inhabitants are well. My question would be if I could get away with no mechanical filtration. I have a roller mat and it uses a roll every 6-9 days. I buy the replacement rolls in bulk to save a little, but it’s still expensive, and I’m not one for filter socks, or cleaning them every couple days. Any of you guys not using mechanical filtration and keeping water polished, healthy inhabitants and nutrients in check?

 

[Kooma]

I have never used mechanical filtration in my systems, ive been reefing since 2012. Tune your skimmer and you should be fine.

I have trouble keeping up my nitrates and phosphates lately, my corals and fish are happy and tank is crystal clear. Tank has live rock, sand, a skimmer, heaters, return pump and powerhead. Zero filter floss or sponges or anything else.

 

[BryanM]

I basically only have an algae turf scrubber. No rollermat, no skimmer.

I do have filter socks, they are only there dealing with dinos.

 

[DCR]

I don't see the need for any mechanical filtration either and have only used filter socks intermittently when siphoning out algae/cyano/dinos. I think at best it does not really matter - maybe keeps the water a little clearer of floating debris - and at worst is filtering out beneficial organisms.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

You could consider slowing the flow down through the roller. Paper will last a lot longer. It might capture/remove a bit less but the slower flow won't rise as quickly in the roller and trigger the motor.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

I basically only have an algae turf scrubber. No rollermat, no skimmer.

I do have filter socks, they are only there dealing with dinos.

I feel the same way about refugiums. A total solution for me. Only exception is super heavy stocked tanks or tanks that get feed many times a day. In that case using a roller to pull out the excess food and fish waste before it decays proves valuable.