29gal Filtration Debate

Guy W · 10/18/2015, 02:15 PM

Hey I'm in the process of getting my 29gal tank setup. The path I'm going down is setting it up with a 3" sand bed, Live Rock at between 30-40lbs, and a Remora HOB Skimmer.

Now I have been out of the aquarium game for a long time, probably going on 10 years, but back then the idea that a combo of live rock and a sand bed was all that you "need" for your biological filtration.

So today while at the LFS I was explaining to the guy what my setup is going to be and he said I NEED some sort of filter, ideally a sump + refugium, but at the very least a HOB Power Filter or better yet a Canister filter. I explained that it was my understanding that the sand/rock will host all the beneficial bacteria needed to offer biological filtration and my skimmer + 2 times monthly 10% water changes would be more than sufficient for my other needs. He said absolutely that will not work and I'm going to kill everything, Fish and Corals, I put in the tank.

So was I horribly misinformed before, is my my understanding of filtration incorrect? I'm a little confused after this conversation with the guy at the LFS.

DesertReefT4r · 10/18/2015, 08:10 PM

Keep in mind that 1 the lfs wants to sell you as much as possible its how they keep the doors open. 2 while the advice the lfs gave you was not incorrect it was not correct either. Ask 10 differnet people the right way to keep a saltwater tank and you will get 9 different answers. Imo hob filter used as made out of the box are not a great idea on a reef tank and a canister filter is a no no, but there are many with beautiful tanks using hob and canister filters. When i had my 29g i had a 10g tank converted into a sump with a fuge setup in the center and a coralife ss65 as my filteration. That little tank did really well and was a mixed reef with a clam, softies and some sps.

Guy W · 10/19/2015, 09:20 AM

Thanks for your thoughts.

Guy W · 10/22/2015, 07:25 PM

Anyone else care to chime in? Am I dooming myself to failure by going with the Sand Bed/Live Rock/Protein Skimmer setup for my filtration needs like my LFS seemed to indicate?

jrp1588 · 10/23/2015, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy W

Anyone else care to chime in? Am I dooming myself to failure by going with the Sand Bed/Live Rock/Protein Skimmer setup for my filtration needs like my LFS seemed to indicate?

My 29gal sumpless tank running that setup seems to be fine. In fact, I even removed the sandbed and went bare bottom, now everything seems even happier. He's just trying to make a sale. That being said, when I set up my 125gal, I plan to use a sump just because it does have a lot of benefits. Mostly hiding equipment.

mav3rick478 · 10/23/2015, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy W

Anyone else care to chime in? Am I dooming myself to failure by going with the Sand Bed/Live Rock/Protein Skimmer setup for my filtration needs like my LFS seemed to indicate?

Same setup I have for my current 28 bowfront. Same setup I ran on my 55 gallon about 8 years ago except that tank had a sump that only housed the skimmer, I let the rocks and sand handle all the filtration.

emily97 · 10/24/2015, 01:45 PM

It would be easier with a sump but it can be done sumpless

10/18/2015, 02:15 PM	#1
Guy W Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 225	29gal Filtration Debate Hey I'm in the process of getting my 29gal tank setup. The path I'm going down is setting it up with a 3" sand bed, Live Rock at between 30-40lbs, and a Remora HOB Skimmer. Now I have been out of the aquarium game for a long time, probably going on 10 years, but back then the idea that a combo of live rock and a sand bed was all that you "need" for your biological filtration. So today while at the LFS I was explaining to the guy what my setup is going to be and he said I NEED some sort of filter, ideally a sump + refugium, but at the very least a HOB Power Filter or better yet a Canister filter. I explained that it was my understanding that the sand/rock will host all the beneficial bacteria needed to offer biological filtration and my skimmer + 2 times monthly 10% water changes would be more than sufficient for my other needs. He said absolutely that will not work and I'm going to kill everything, Fish and Corals, I put in the tank. So was I horribly misinformed before, is my my understanding of filtration incorrect? I'm a little confused after this conversation with the guy at the LFS.

10/18/2015, 08:10 PM	#2
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	Keep in mind that 1 the lfs wants to sell you as much as possible its how they keep the doors open. 2 while the advice the lfs gave you was not incorrect it was not correct either. Ask 10 differnet people the right way to keep a saltwater tank and you will get 9 different answers. Imo hob filter used as made out of the box are not a great idea on a reef tank and a canister filter is a no no, but there are many with beautiful tanks using hob and canister filters. When i had my 29g i had a 10g tank converted into a sump with a fuge setup in the center and a coralife ss65 as my filteration. That little tank did really well and was a mixed reef with a clam, softies and some sps.

10/19/2015, 09:20 AM	#3
Guy W Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 225	Thanks for your thoughts.

10/22/2015, 07:25 PM	#4
Guy W Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 225	Anyone else care to chime in? Am I dooming myself to failure by going with the Sand Bed/Live Rock/Protein Skimmer setup for my filtration needs like my LFS seemed to indicate?

10/24/2015, 01:45 PM	#7
emily97 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 44	It would be easier with a sump but it can be done sumpless