Filtration!?!?

If i plan on having mini-reef with a 55 gal tank with a 20 gal sump with live rock and live sand what type of filtration will it require since the sand is supposed to have denitrifying bacteria with the anoxic conditions. do i still need a form of mechanical filtration or would normal water changes suffice?

 

you might be able to get away with no filtration and people have but i would have to strongly reccommend at least a good quality skimmer

 

ok on the skimmer. actually i have another question. does a skimmer work in the sump? i thought it was supposed to remove proteins that float on the surface. maybe i don't even get how the sump works? any help?

 

yes a skimmer works in the sum, what a skimmer does is take you water and basically pump a bunch of bubbles into it, the dissolved proteins in the water have both a hydrophyllic (likes water) and a hydrophobic (doesnt like water) end. this draws the proteins to the bubble because they can both be touching water and air at the same time. That is why you collect the bubbles in the collection cup. that is where all the dirt is

 

thanks alot. you cleared up a bunch of questions.

 

no problem