Coral Tank

Suppose one wanted to have a tank with just corals in it, specifically zoo's and other soft corals for fragging. No fish. Would you even need anytype of filtration or just live rock, sand and circulation? Just curious.

 

you would still need some kind of filtration to remove excess DOC/DOM

 

Would a skimmer do?

 

If you are not planning on keeping stony corals(hermatypic), then it is possible to have a thriving tank without the use of a skimmer or other mechanical filtration devices. The live rock and sand will suffice in the ability of the beneficial bacteria and organisms living on and within the substrate will afford your corals sufficient water quality. One thing you can do to help to ensure the water chemistry is in check other than periodic testing is the routine changing of 5-10% of your water weekly. This will reduce pollutants, contaminants, terpenes(toxic chemicals) though these are not going to hinder other soft corals as much as they would affect stony corals!!!!
I have a 30hex tank that I have been experimenting with for the past 3 months now with beneficial results without the support of a skimmer or othr mechanical filtration. I use powerheads for water movement and perform weekly water changes is all. I also have a Niger Trigger, 6-line wrasse, Clown fish(paired with a pacific long tipped anemone) and a damsel with my soft corals(octocorals) and all are thriving!
Don't get me wrong, a skimmer is a very important and beneficial part of a reef tank or any ohter type of marine biotope in a captive environment, it is just that it can be done carefully.
Be careful of overfeeding also!
The employment of a refugium housing macroalgae is also a suggestion!
Hope this helps!
Brian, not trying to step on your toes as you are right as well!!!hehehehe

 

I've heard of a reef tank with fish, 180 I believe that a pharamacist keeps at his drug store (went to see it this weekend and he was closed but saw the top 15% of it). Anyways, he frags all the time and gives coral away like crazy to the reef club I just found about in town and I happen to be leaving for 3 months in 2 weeks. Anyways to the point --- it has tangs (yellow and hippo at least) and other fish, full of coral and he has had NO PROTIEN SKIMMER or other mechanical filtration and does not do water changes or has not in the last 12 years. I don't recommend it but I believe his fuge does all his filtration and the top 15% I saw looks awesome. I'm going to see it this weekend as I love to look at just about anything saltwater but thought I'd throw that out there --- 12 years and no mechanical filtration... just thought that was amazing in itself and as much as he frags and as fast it regrows from what I've been told sounds like stuff grows healthy and fast.

 

After you look at it and get the whole story let me know. If true that is awesome>>>>>

 

Sweet. Yes we need the whole story....

Antoehr note is that dependign on the type of coral a tank that is high in nutirents may be benificial to growth. Some corals like high nuturient loads and less water changes can be benificial to a degree. However there is a line you have to balence around....

 

I believe his refugium does the job but I'm definately interested myself and keep everyone informed once I check it out and get the facts first hand. I'm actually excited to see it.

 

This Tank is an LPS dominated 90G, has never had a skimmer. There are about 6 fish, wrasses and tangs. He does use miracle mud in his sump.

J

 

Ok here's the scoop on that 120 gallon really nice reef tank.

1. He has NO fuge/sump at all

2. He has a rubber trash can he puts RO water in with crushed coral -- pure water is slightly acidic and the acidic water reacts with the crushed coral adding calcium?? (I might be wrong there) and buffers the water. He has a pump circulating in the rubber tank .

3. He does 2 - 5 gallon water changes a week.

4. THAT'S IT!

I was also talking with him and his tank has been set up 10-12 years and he has a yellow tail damsel in there from the beginning. Hard to believe a 12 year old damsel. His tank has gone through different stages as well. Xenia has run rampant and then the stonie's go rampant and seems like everything has it's own cycle of growth. Once one is done something else will start. He's got a lot of sponge growth on the bottom as well. Lot's of circulation, only lighting is 20K Metal Halide. Beautiful tank and everything is growing like crazy as he frags all the time. He had some clams that got to be around 9 years old and died, took them out and they smelled awful but now if he puts any in the hermit crabs go right to them so he's held off on any new clams.
Impressive tank to say the least -- with no mechincal filtration at all!