Do I NEED a filter?

I'm wondering if I even need a filter, I mean, all I hear is bad thing about canisters, and all seem valid, it looks ugly, it has little suction power, but does get stuff out. I have a 40 breeder with a 30G sump/fuge, a way overpowered skimmer, 40 (soon to be 60) pounds of sand, and 55 (soon to be 80-90) pounds of live rock. Is that enough to allow me to sell the filter (it's an XP3 canister)? I have heard of pure biological filtration from rocks and sand but I know my tank isn't big enough to rely on rocks. If I put a fine/medium sponge on the piping in and out of the sump/fuge would that at least be enough or will I need a filter to get water from lower than the overflow? Thanks.

 

You absolutely don't have to have a filter, and any size tank is big enough to rely on its rock as the primary filter. The key is the ratio of rock to water. If you have at least somewhere around 1lb. per gallon, your rock will have the capacity to filter everything down to nitrates. I would not ever advise putting filter sponges inside plumbing because it will lead to backups and could cause big problems. Any filter sponge in your sump system should have means to bypass in an emergency.

 

+1 :thumb_up:

 

Ok, I'd have about 2lb/gal so I guess I'd be good, and I didn't mean in, I meant like rubberbanded to the end so it's easy to clean and everything.

 

I have a hob filter on my 10g but its only used for running carbon and holding LR rubble. I also have a few mangroves growing in it. It's not needed at all really. It's more like a small fuge than a filter.

 

I had a XP3 that came with my tank when I bought it (CL). It took the first time doing tank maintenance on it to see how much crap and gunk that collectied in crevices to make me take it off. While some would say seeing all that is good, the pain in the butt to scrub it up presentable just screamed build up & issues. I use a ATS/skimmer in conjuction now & have had no (knock on wood) problems.

 

I have a sumpless 55 and have had a canitster on it for almost 2 years now. Never had a problem. The key is maintenance, you have to keep up on it or they can be a probelm. I did remove the foam sponges because keeping them clean was really a pain.

 

I agree with Mike. Although, i'd add, I like having a canister around to run carbon, GFO, if no reactor is a available and the occasional filter pad, if things get stirred up. No big deal though, you don't need it. It is good for some things though.


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