Let's Talk Filters Everybody

Y

yellow tang

AC Members
Jul 17, 2006
127
0
0
As many of you know out there, power filters, cansister filters and such are essential to a healthy freshwater system. But when you are dealing with saltwater, that's not always the case. So I thought we could give some reasons here for why some of us out there don't use power filters for saltwater aquariums. I thought this could give a little insight to some of the new people entering this hobby as to why we don't always use those kind of filters. Because starting a saltwater aquarium is a bit different than freshwater. And it can be a bit confusing to newcomers to the hobby who previously had freshwater systems. Also hearing that all you need is a protein skimmer and some sort of magical rock (liverock) is a bit odd. So I thought we could go ahead and help explain our reasons.
 
Last edited:
I am one for allowing life forms to step into the role of mechanical filters as much as possible. Which is why I refuse to use any of the "trapping" materials such as sponge filters or filter floss regardless of where such materials can be found or used within. Since I strive to have an actual reef tank, which involves keeping as much diversity of life as possible and not just corals. Having materials that trap such life as well as the food sources that such life feeds upon is in my opinion, anti-reef.
If I do find the need to run some carbon or fire up the skimmer, its only because I did something "stupid" like over feed, or have something spawn and make a big mess. Once things are cleaned up, the skimmer gets turned off, and the carbon is not replaced and taken out of action once I feel its been "used up". Even when I do run carbon, its either in a small cannister filter with no floss or sponge, or most often, I just hang it in a mesh bag on the sump's inlet.
So instead of trying to catch detritus / particulates, I use life forms that actively seek out such things for food. I also try my best to include a good many algae species that not only uptake nutrients, but provide homes for a great many critters that who in their own spawning provides a live food source for the corals and other inverts. To encourage such life, I also dose a litre or two of live phytoplankton throughtout a 24 hour period. In short, provide the habitats and the food, (live DSB, Algae refugium, cryptic areas) and you in turn provide the filtration and can rightly claim to use the word "reef". But thats a whole nudder subject...lol

Chuck
 
Yup, every day. I know, it took me awhile to work up the nerve to do so. But its amazing, to me at least, that such dosing has no effect on my water quality and it quickly disappears. In fact, two or three nights ago, I wanted to give the pods and other inverts a feast night and poured 5 litres of phyto in at one shot. Turned the entire system green. At first, I stood there thinking, "yeah, good move ya idiot!", but within two hours, the water was clear again and I have not seen a spike in any nutrient levels. I doubt I'll do that again just cause it freaked me out...lol If you care to take a peek, check out "my inverts" page as it also has a little smeal about my phyto culture.

Chuck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom