Starting a nano.... filter or no filter?

[zamboni200000]

Hey all,

I'm getting ready to start up a nano tank pretty soon.... thinking a Mr. aqua 6g or 12g long. I read the following "guide" and have 1 main question.

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/nano-saltwater-discussion/34054-nano-reef-step-step-guide.html

Any thoughts on this article?

The author says that a filter and/or skimmer are NOT necessary. Just plenty of live rock and sand + water changes. Yet then the author goes on to say they run a biowheel filter. Also reading a lot of these threads, seems like most people run a filter.

Anyone out there with successful nano tanks.... what is your opinion? Filter or no filter? And if filter.... is aquaclear 70 or 110 the clear choice for a 6-12g?

Thanks all, cheers :beer:

Danny

 

[Hentz]

When it comes to Nano, I've always ran an AIO (All In One) tank. Honestly, as long as you keep up with top offs - preferably and auto top off - keep up on water changes and all, you should be fine.

You could totally run a sump - which is what a lot of people do with the 12g long Mr. Aqua.

 

[Mongo77]

You have to at least provide flow in the tank. You cannot just top off and do water changes. Alot of people who have nanos with filters are not using the filter as it came out of the box. The filter provides the needed circulation and is often modded to hold live rock rubble or macroalagea. I have the ac 70 on my 7.5 nano. I set it up with cheato, chemi pure, and live rock rubble.

 

[zamboni200000]

Awesome hint thanks. Excuse my ignorance but what is cheato?
And what's the purpose of live rock rubble in the filter?
As for flow, of course, I figured the filter (if I use one) and a small hydor koralia would provide more than adequate flow. Also I want to get a sweet par38 fixture, which is the main reason I don't want an aio... Because the affordable aio's usually have crappy lights.

 

[Mongo77]

Cheato is macro algae that is grown to remove nutrients from the water and out compete nuisance algae in the display tank. People also add rumble to the filter to increase the amount of live rock in the system and to provided a breeding ground for pods.

 

[zamboni200000]

Oh that's so Cool!! So basically a tiny little primitive sump right in the filter... Whereabouts in the ac70 do you house that stuff? Right in the spot where the sponge/carbon is supposed to be?

 

[Mongo77]

Yeah. Search ac70mods and you'll see how easy it is do.

 

[zamboni200000]

awesome thanks for the info, much appreciated! Is there anybody out there that runs a successful nano without a filter at all? Doesn't seem like it...

 

[Hewitt10]

I use a built in skimmer with my nanno tank but I also use section of Arcadia poly-filter pads and my water is spot on!

 

[terrypercula]

If you run literally no filter you'd want a very small bio load. I'd say no fish and a few inverts. A couple things you could do. Run a refugium which is beneficial but not a good lone means of filtration IMO. HOB skimmer which some will say isn't necessary in a small tank and I tend to agree though it never hurts. You could also run some kind of media in a reactor. I'd say to some up everything if you run a small bio load I'd still want some form of filtration.

 

[GoingPostal]

I don't run filters on my nanos at all, just rock and powerheads. They are small enough regular water changes are plenty.