Do i really need one?

I do not use a power filter or any filter floss or sponge at all. Fish waste isn't dangerous till it breaks down into doc's. It actually feeds many of the corals in our tanks. When the waste breaks down into disolved organic compounds, our skimmers come into play and that is the nasty sludge that your skimmer pulls out. I'm not saying that if you use a filter, your tank will fail. I'm just saying that it takes a ton more mainenance.