Do I really need a filter?

Hi All,
Im new to the site but not new to the hobby. I have a 75gl tank with around 60 lbs of live rock. I'm currently running a Remora C Skimmer and a canister filter with just 2 bags of Bio Chem and some live rock rubble in it.
I would like to eliminate the canister and possibly just run a hang on filter for now with a bag of bio chem. I hate the canister but i dont want to spend the cash on a sump if i really dont need to.
The tank has 1 clarky Clown, sailfin tang, cardinal, copperbanded butterfly, dwarf angle and three chromis. Plus several dozen crabs and coral banded shrimp. The tank is around 2 years old.
Thanks!

 

Hi, and welcome!

In short, no you do not need a filter. Your live rock is the bulk of your filtration and the skimmer removes DOCs, thereby reducing the bio-load on the LR. Without a sump, a HOB is nice for chemical media though. That's all I have on my 29g.

 

Thanks, thats what i though. I want to add a sump eventually but i dont want to just rush into spending more money if i dont need to. I just want to get rid of the canister, its collecting too much waste and its too hard to clean in a condo.

 

hi i dont want to tell you how to do things, but a sump can be super cheap if you DIY, or free if you have and extra tank laying around and some plexi glass lol (and aquarium silicon or coarse), if you dont have those things you can pick a 10g up on craigslist for like $5 $10 at the most(or a 20 or 30 gallon if your lucky), and pick up some plexi at HD or lowes and they can even cut it for you to the sizes you need. if you look on youtube you can find a bunch of DIY sumps videos. honestly you would spend way more on a HOB filter then you would on a sump and if you want to do one eventually, why not do it now and get it out of the way haha! ill post a pic of my DIY sump from when i first set up my old 55 gal that i seriously just posted 5 min ago on another thread...its a popular pic today haha!

 

i would but the DIY sumps make me nervous. Im on the second floor and i dont want to dump 75g of water on my neighbors condo if something goes wrong. What stops them from overflowing if the power goes out?

 

There are many items ot there that would stop the siphon. Drill the hole higher in your tank then drill back holes in the return. You could also use some different types of valves or simply make sure your sump can take the extra water. Your whole tank won't drain into it because you will be drilling your overflow near the top of your tank. Mine empties less then 2 gallons

 

I used to not have a filter of any kind besides a skimmer and uv but, I added a hob (emperor 400 $40) just to collect the junk that I seen in the water. I now use it to run carbon. As for a sump being cheaper I don't really see it being cheaper as you will need a tank, overflow, and a return pump. Along with other parts for plumbing.

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To do a sump, you'd need to drill your tank, if you want no chance of overflowing. I don't see this being cheaper, and think what you have is perfectly fine. You can buy a HOB overflow instead, but my experience is they are fairly reliable, but do occasionally overflow. It may takes years for it to happen, but it can happen. So, I really wouldn't worry about it. Rocks, a skimmer, GAC and water changes is all you really need.

I am not sure what bio chem is, I assume it is some sort of biomedia? If that's the case, it is not needed. You may want to run carbon in an HOB filter though. The GAC, will help keep Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) levels low and remove toxins. Biomedia just does the same thing as the liverock, but less effectively and does not help remove nitrate.

Running cheato or something in a sump isn't a bad idea, but really not needed if you keep up with water changes and don't overstock (Your Sailfin tang will outgrow the tank and then some BTW, they get over a foot long, have huge appetites and lots of energy, not good at all for your setup sorry to say...). If you feed you do need something like that, you could always get an HOB fuge latter, or just build/get an algae turf scrubber. Really there are lots of options, the biggest benefit of a fuge is it helps hide things, but I wouldn't call this a necessity LOL, all of the same things can be accomplished with out one.

 

How long did you have that copperband butterfly?Those are notoriously difficult to keep long term. It is also one of my favorite fish...

I have had bad luck with one.

 

thanks for all the replys.
Im definatly not drilling my tank. I have No intrest in breaking it down. Its hard enough just cleaning the canister in a condo with hardwood floors and no access to a garden hose. If i go with a sump its going to be with an overflow. I have a couple of hang on filters already so thats definatly the cheapest way to go for now.
I meant to say i run Chemi Pure not bio chem...
As for the sailfin i know hes just going to be short term then ill give him to a friend with a bigger tank. The copperband has been in my tank for a couple of months. He's a pickey eater and was bullied by the sailfin for the first couple of days but hes doing fine now.