Do I really need the AquaClear 110 ?

I have a 75g reef that has a prizm pro skimmer, about 80 lbs of rock both live and base (going to be adding another 20lbs of base within the next week) and the aquaclear. Do I really need to keep the filter? It is a PITA to clean and swap out the carbon and sponge. Some have said I can get rid of it and others say no. I only have a few small fish : scooter, mandarin, pair of pink skunks, coral beauty, pair of Pj's, yellowhead and a shrimp gobie. The usual snails, hermits, couple shrimp and an emerald crab for bubble algae. I keep only softies and mushrooms. Is it feasible to ditch the filter?

 

The choise is yours if you dont have a sump, but its a great place to run carbon, I run it 24/7.

 

yes,i'd keep it.i had a prizm skimmer and a aquaclear 110 just on a 29 gallon tank and i always found lots of junk in the filter at cleaning time.

 

Here's what you can do with the sponge. Cut it in half so there is a top and bottom piece. The bottom piece will always have the most junk. When you clean the filter, remove the bottom piece and clean it and place the piece that was on top, on the bottom of the filter. Then place the cleaned piece on top of this.

 

To run carbon I use a phosphate reactor...There is really no need for a filter, actually, if you are not careful maintaining this type of filter nitrates will leach into the water. Once the carbon is spent there is the potential for there to be adverse effects on your system...8)

 

Would it be more beneficial to turn it into a fuge? I saw where someone had cut the basket up to act as a "catch" so the chaeto wouldn't go into the the main tank. They also made a baffle of sorts to keep the u-tube area separate from the main body. This was done using epoxy to make the side of the original basket higher to reduce heavy flow. My only concern would be that my lighting system ( 4x65w) wouldn't produce sufficient light for the chaeto to grow. I have a sump on my 210g fowlr that has chateo so getting that would be no problem. I am just trying to find a simpler way for maintenance that ditches the sponge for nitrate issues.

 

A few years ago, I had a 55 gallon FOWLR with clowns, tangs, wrasses, and a lion. I ran a Bak Pak and an Aquaclear. I never had a problem with ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. They did a great job at keeping the tank filtered. I have a 65 gallon hexagon, and if I had the room, I would run an Aquaclear with my Bak Pak.

EDIT: Wow, didn't realize how old this post was. Hopefully some newbie like me will stumble across this thread! lol

 

well i stumbled

BUT WHAT DID SMITTY DO WITH IT?!?!?!

its like just watching the first half of a movie