Mechanical filtration necessary in a reef?

C

Cygnus

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Dec 15, 2003
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Is mechanical filtration necessary in a reef? I'm planning on using my Fluval 404 for circulation only. I will have a 4" DSB with argonite sand, 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon (55 gallon.) AquaC Remora skimmer with maxijet 1200 pump, and two power heads for circulation. Also will be using 130 W pc's for lighting, and plan to keep low to medium light loving inverts and fish. Will I need to use the sponges in my Fluval for mechanical filtration or not? Thanks.

Does this setup sound ok? I will be cycling with live rock, and add fish after it is all stable.
 
Sounds like a fine setup. Mechanical filtration is certainly not necessary on a reef, and possibly not desirable. Most reef tanks are full of invertebrates that feed on small objects, so I try not to filter those out.
 
is any sort of filtration necessary with inverts and live rock? chemical filtration will take your trace elements out.
 
do you need a protien skimmer if you are using a dsb, live rock and corals and a clean up army of inverts ie stars, snails, shrimp, and crabs etc.

I would like to create a tank with as little waste as possible and filters mean waste I mean I am taking something out and not just putting something in ie food etc. I am just wondering I would prob be using a protien skimmer with a reef tank but was hoping to make things a minimal aside from lighting and current creation.
 
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