All Natural Filtration

ChrisCummins · 05/31/2006, 08:24 AM

Hi all,
I've been setting up a 5 gal nano reef for a while now. Most reading on filtration in reefs automatically assumes the following: you have a skimmer and you have a sump. Now, I don't have either of those and so have been pointed in the direction of lots of chemcal filtration (i.e. polyfilters, purigen, activated carbon and rowa phos). I'm wondering is it possible to make a reef without any of this artificial filtration? My plans are for an invert system, with:

3x 18W Lights
HOB Refugium with - mineral mud, live rock rubble, macro algae and a snail
Eheim Classic External - no media
deep sand bed
live rock

Flow turnover rate would be around 65 times an hour. Just wondering what everyones thoughts are?

Thanks,
Chris

Anemonebuff · 05/31/2006, 08:30 AM

I have heard of quite a few people going skimmerless, so I think it wold work. However, I feel that a skimmer is a great tool and a great backup for a refugium.

Saltz Creep · 05/31/2006, 08:33 AM

So many people want to be "natural" and emulate the ocean in every aspect. The fact is that you simply cannot do it with a box of water. This is why we have to use technology to compensate what our tanks simply cannot do on their own.

As for your tank, a nano is extremely difficult. A larger volume of water would essentially buy you more time before you must dilute the DOCs that your nautural filtration could not remove.

ChrisCummins · 05/31/2006, 09:08 AM

Hiya, thanks for the feedback.

Unfortunately on a tank my size, a skimmer physically won't fit, however much a nice addition it would be though. When I say "all natural", I don't mean an attempt at emulating the ocean, beacause as you rightly pointed out it is just a box of water and doesn't have anywhere near the capacity or bio-diversity to attempt such a feat.

The other side to looking at "how to remove wastes" is "how to reduce waste production". I would assume in an invert tank the bio-load isn't going to be massive?

Thanks,
Chris

P.S: What does DOC stand for?

Salty Brother · 05/31/2006, 09:39 AM

My brother has a 5.5 gal nano almost all narual. He has a old filter turned into fuge with carbon, sand and cheato. Then about 5lbs lr in tank, it has been set up for about 3 weeks and has been doing ok.

05/31/2006, 08:24 AM	#1
ChrisCummins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Derbyshire, England Posts: 77	All Natural Filtration Hi all, I've been setting up a 5 gal nano reef for a while now. Most reading on filtration in reefs automatically assumes the following: you have a skimmer and you have a sump. Now, I don't have either of those and so have been pointed in the direction of lots of chemcal filtration (i.e. polyfilters, purigen, activated carbon and rowa phos). I'm wondering is it possible to make a reef without any of this artificial filtration? My plans are for an invert system, with: 3x 18W Lights HOB Refugium with - mineral mud, live rock rubble, macro algae and a snail Eheim Classic External - no media deep sand bed live rock Flow turnover rate would be around 65 times an hour. Just wondering what everyones thoughts are? Thanks, Chris

05/31/2006, 08:30 AM	#2
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	I have heard of quite a few people going skimmerless, so I think it wold work. However, I feel that a skimmer is a great tool and a great backup for a refugium.

05/31/2006, 08:33 AM	#3
Saltz Creep Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hickville, FL Posts: 3,728	So many people want to be "natural" and emulate the ocean in every aspect. The fact is that you simply cannot do it with a box of water. This is why we have to use technology to compensate what our tanks simply cannot do on their own. As for your tank, a nano is extremely difficult. A larger volume of water would essentially buy you more time before you must dilute the DOCs that your nautural filtration could not remove.

05/31/2006, 09:08 AM	#4
ChrisCummins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Derbyshire, England Posts: 77	Hiya, thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately on a tank my size, a skimmer physically won't fit, however much a nice addition it would be though. When I say "all natural", I don't mean an attempt at emulating the ocean, beacause as you rightly pointed out it is just a box of water and doesn't have anywhere near the capacity or bio-diversity to attempt such a feat. The other side to looking at "how to remove wastes" is "how to reduce waste production". I would assume in an invert tank the bio-load isn't going to be massive? Thanks, Chris P.S: What does DOC stand for?

05/31/2006, 09:39 AM	#5
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	My brother has a 5.5 gal nano almost all narual. He has a old filter turned into fuge with carbon, sand and cheato. Then about 5lbs lr in tank, it has been set up for about 3 weeks and has been doing ok.