Remove the filter?

[B-Rye]

I am thinking of removing the filter from my tank (29 gallon). This tank only has a green spotted puffer and some bumblebee goby. Salinity is 1.016

Its about a year old. I think there is enough surface area to handle the bioload without a filter. Thoughts?

 

[fishywishy]

I would add more filtration because the water is so dirty.

 

[mjszos]

Ditto on filtration. The water looks pretty gnarly.

Also is that salinity correct?

 

[B-Rye]

Thank you peanut gallery.

 

[B-Rye]

Ditto on filtration. The water looks pretty gnarly.

Also is that salinity correct?

The tank does not have much in the way of mechanical filtration. About once a month I will add a mechanical filter and clean it out of debris. Yes that salinity is correct and exactly what I want it to be. Do you happen to have any input on the adequacy of just rocks and flow for managing the bioload? I am not going for a sterile look on the tank. I am going for natural both in look and filtration. I want to keep the little surface skimmer to add flow and keep the skim from showing on the surface.

 

[fish_collector]

For sure there is enough biological activity in the tank to be able to remove the filter, but at minimum I'd be sure to add something to break the surface of the water for gas exchange.

I love the caulerpa. It's been on my mind lately to use a 40 breeder with just a few pieces of rock and some sand, and start caulerpa growing for a habitat for a pair (male and female) of filefish I have to see if I can get them to breed. Filefish aren't normally reef dwelling fish but live in shallows among seagrass. it's been done before.

 

[B-Rye]

For sure there is enough biological activity in the tank to be able to remove the filter, but at minimum I'd be sure to add something to break the surface of the water for gas exchange.

I love the caulerpa. It's been on my mind lately to use a 40 breeder with just a few pieces of rock and some sand, and start caulerpa growing for a habitat for a pair (male and female) of filefish I have to see if I can get them to breed. Filefish aren't normally reef dwelling fish but live in shallows among seagrass. it's been done before.

I have a little surface skimmer thing that I think might be enough, but maybe adding a little power head would be in order.

I tend to only do water changes for PH and trace mineral reasons (maybe once every 3 months). I imagine the algae is pulling the ammonia out before it can convert to nitrate.

 

[fish_collector]

Those little surface skimmers work really good to keep the surface clear, I used one on a HOB filter for a long time. But yeah I'd add something to break the surface for gas exchange. And you're right the algae is probably keeping the nitrate in check.

 

[mjszos]

The tank does not have much in the way of mechanical filtration. About once a month I will add a mechanical filter and clean it out of debris. Yes that salinity is correct and exactly what I want it to be. Do you happen to have any input on the adequacy of just rocks and flow for managing the bioload? I am not going for a sterile look on the tank. I am going for natural both in look and filtration. I want to keep the little surface skimmer to add flow and keep the skim from showing on the surface.

If you’re happy with the appearance of it, then presumably yes there should be enough bacteria in your substrate/rock, and the macro algae will help quite a bit too.

If I’m reading your comment correctly it sounds like the filter you’re interested in removing isn’t consistently in the tank anyway? If that’s the case then you’re probably fine to remove it. If you are regularly running it and I misinterpreted then you may want to test a little more frequently for a few weeks to see any effects.

Gas exchange and surface agitation as another commenter stated need to be considered as well.

Thank you peanut gallery.

Seeing as how you provided 0 information on your goals in your initial post, a general consensus is wanting clean looking water so it’s not unreasonable to assume that was your goal as well.

 

[B-Rye]

If you’re happy with the appearance of it, then presumably yes there should be enough bacteria in your substrate/rock, and the macro algae will help quite a bit too.

If I’m reading your comment correctly it sounds like the filter you’re interested in removing isn’t consistently in the tank anyway? If that’s the case then you’re probably fine to remove it. If you are regularly running it and I misinterpreted then you may want to test a little more frequently for a few weeks to see any effects.

Gas exchange and surface agitation as another commenter stated need to be considered as well.



Seeing as how you provided 0 information on your goals in your initial post, a general consensus is wanting clean looking water so it’s not unreasonable to assume that was your goal as well.

The filter I am removing is a coarse sponge filter. The one I occasionally add is a powerhead with a filter sock inside a cut-in-half 1-liter bottle, which helps remove debris from the water for aesthetic reasons. My question specifically pertains to water chemistry and the impact of removing a filter.

My comment about "peanut gallery" responses comes from frustration at the first reply completely ignoring the actual question—it's not meant to be mean, just to emphasize that I'm looking for insight into water chemistry, not aesthetics.

 

[mjszos]

I think your plan is sound. I would still likely plan to run that power head/bottle filter just to keep on pulling out solid waste and what not... I'm far from an expert chemist, but I would anticipate that there is a bell curve effect of efficiency, the organics may outcompete the bacteria if left completely unchecked.

I was mostly ribbing, aesthetics and chemistry tend to go hand in hand though. While the overwhelming majority of people like the sterile look, it does lead to less management curves in my experience.