how important is mechanical filtration?

[Jon Evans]

I have a 75 gallon reef with lps and softies. I have an algae refugium, and live rock and about 2" of live sand in the main tank. Do I need mechanical filtration, or will the junk get trapped in my refugium and skimmer?

 

[mg426]

If you allready have one you could use it to run AC in. i dont think I would run out and buy one if you dont. if you do use any filter media make sure you clean it / replace it at least once per week if not more often.

 

[Pandora]

Jon, I run a similar setup, and do fine. What is your circulation like, do you know GPH?

Reef setups in the old days relied more heavily on mechanical filtration than they do today, but today we are finding ways of lowering nitrate levels as the result of increased use of refugia & skimmers. I would say that it is really the more heavily stocked FO or FOWLR tank which continues to need some sort of mechanical filtration. WIth lower bioload, as you see in most reef tanks with corals, this is not necessary and not even welcome if your goal is to reduce nitrates.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

agree with Pandora......one this one ;-)

 

[Pandora]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6793441#post6793441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
agree with Pandora......one this one ;-)

LOL... I've agreed with you on several things in the past. I would never make it personal, I just go with where the logic is! I can't even remember what our last debate was about...

 

[Jon Evans]

I appreciate the feed back. I do have a low bioload, and everything seems fine. I just want to avoid problems because I just removed my prefilter sponge.