40gal filterless adventure

[NanoDrummer09]

Hello all i figured i would wait till some of my work was complete before i post anything on here and i can't wait any longer. Currently i am running a 10gal filterless aquarium that has grown and really impressed me with how well it was running. I live in an apartment and am a student so i have to have realistic expectations as to how big of an upgrade i can afford and handle. I decided on a 40 gallon breeder and thanks to Coral Connections in Sarasota i was able to get a good deal on a used one they had.

I built the stand with my dad up in Tampa using 2x4 making it about 30" tall and stained a dark mahogany. I like the openness of it and it leaves space to play with my water container for ATO and shelves for fish supplies.

Ill be running a 150w current USA sun pod using THIS DIY hanging kit i found and depending on how the light looks i might throw on my LEDS that i currently have on my 10gal for added light. I won't be adding much SPS so I'm not worried about the outcome.

Like i said ill be going filterless only with the occasional HOB filter with carbon and a media sponge most likely after water changes. Ill be using 3 of the Hydor Koralia Evolution 550/600 for circulation. I also used Red Sea Coral Pro salt aiming for a 1.024 salinity. So far so good! Thanks for reading along any comments, suggestions, or questions gladly welcomed!

 

[rogergolf66]

What percentage water changes do u do on the current 10 gal and how often? What fish do u have? How much and often do u feed, and what do u feed?

 

[ganjero]

If you have liverock or sand it is not filterless :wildone:

 

[rogergolf66]

I don't c any live rock but yes do see sand

 

[NanoDrummer09]

What percentage water changes do u do on the current 10 gal and how often? What fish do u have? How much and often do u feed, and what do u feed?

I do a two gallon water change every 2 weeks and its just stocked with zoas and softies. I have two snowflake clowns in there and they get frozen brine shrimp, one cube usually last 2 or 3 feedings.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

If you have liverock or sand it is not filterless :wildone:

I don't c any live rock but yes do see sand

I do have live sand and live rock i guess what i meant by filterless is sump less or mechanical filterless.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

Update (as i know everyone is curious) Some LR i bought and sand is in and cleared up my diy hanging was a success just a little higher than i wanted but it looks good. Does anyone this it needs more light? I still have my LEDs i can put on there any advice would be great! Ill probably be transferring everything this upcoming week after i check the parameters

 

[rogergolf66]

Looks good I like the height will give a good spread.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

Looks good I like the height will give a good spread.

thanks i was worried about it being too high. How long do you usually wait to restock a tank if ive stocked it with live sand and LR and also added 5-10gal of my water change water from my other tank?

 

[rogergolf66]

Well u should still get a cycle. Do u understand how that works? If yes then just do ur testing and that will tell u when. If u don't understand it I will explain or post a link for u to read.

I know some people use products to make a shortened cycle or no cycle. I personally am old school and I always make a cycle happen by feeding the tank daily or using a peice of shrimp.

Roger

 

[TheAquatect]

This is always a fun experiment. I ran a 10gal with no water changes and treated tap water for a year.

 

[rfalvey89]

I would run the HOB 24/7. You can get bulk carbon and a mesh bag or carbon "baggies" made by fluval for cheap. That would help aerate it for cheap. Just run the carbon for 7-10 days then toss it and leave the filter empty for a week.
Repeat every other week. Pretty basic concept and kept my water clear. With a 40 breeder it will help with the circulation too.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

I would run the HOB 24/7. You can get bulk carbon and a mesh bag or carbon "baggies" made by fluval for cheap. That would help aerate it for cheap. Just run the carbon for 7-10 days then toss it and leave the filter empty for a week.
Repeat every other week. Pretty basic concept and kept my water clear. With a 40 breeder it will help with the circulation too.

This is always a fun experiment. I ran a 10gal with no water changes and treated tap water for a year.

Well u should still get a cycle. Do u understand how that works? If yes then just do ur testing and that will tell u when. If u don't understand it I will explain or post a link for u to read.

I know some people use products to make a shortened cycle or no cycle. I personally am old school and I always make a cycle happen by feeding the tank daily or using a peice of shrimp.

Roger

thanks for all the advice this is actually my third tank so i have a general idea on cycling the tank i guess im just anxious to make the switch. Im running the HOB filter with carbon and its getting excellent aeration. How long would you all suggest cycling it? Or just keep an eye on the parameters? I think i only cycled my ten gallon for two weeks before i stocked it and everything survived fine. Im really excited to make this happen as i have the LR from my 10gal tank that's covered with zoos and star polyps and i dont want to do any harm to them when i transfer the rock.

 

[Webmanny]

IMHO I would let it cycle solely based on the parameters. I have a pico reef tank (3GL) and that one cycled in about 3 weeks, but my 36GL took about 6 weeks. It makes sense that the more water you have, the longer it will take for bacteria to grow to the necessary levels to properly run the cycle.

I would not add any live stock until you have seen the following take place:

1-Amonia spike up and then come down to zero
2-Nitrite spike up and then come down to zero
3-Nitrate spike up and come down to at least 20ppm (Ideally zero too)
4-of course your PH should be leveled to around 8.2, but that is a given

I did this with my two tanks and I have not lost any creatures. Other than due stupid mistakes I have made, like placing a magnetic frag holder inside my tank, which killed some of my corals, but that is a different story.

Great luck with your adventure. Share some pictures once you start stocking up.