Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical?

adsyrah · 11-01-2009, 08:13 PM

I've been reading up a lot about Berlin Filtration.

Now, simple question. If you've got plenty of live rock in your tank is it necessary to have a mechanical filter too?

I'd like to avoid the need for an external filter (apart from a protein skimmer) so was wondering what opinions are out there about the perfect setup.

chipmunkofdoom2 · 11-01-2009, 08:31 PM

Most reef systems are run without mechanical filtration. Some have a filter sock of sorts, but any type of mechanical filtration has to be cleaned very regularly. The live rock is for putting wastes through the nitrogen cycle, and the mechanical filtration is for capturing the excess food and fish waste before they need to go through the nitrogen cycle.

There really isn't a perfect setup, there's only the setup that works best for you.

adsyrah · 11-01-2009, 09:00 PM

Cheers for the reply.

So am I right to understand that live rock and a protein skimmer is enough?

Clownfish518 · 11-01-2009, 09:16 PM

i also use a filter sock and carbon a week out of the month

nightfire76 · 11-01-2009, 09:30 PM

me im running a marine land bio wheel 400 being that i dont have a sump,though next time i move and i keep my tank and such,i'll have a sump to it just because i'm not too sure it will be enough with my live rock and skimmer to keep up,though i still dont have fish in there so i cant really say until i do

burntricer · 11-01-2009, 10:36 PM

I have a skimmer, 35-40lbs of live rock, and plenty of flow, but im also running a 70 gal mechanical filter, with chemipure, carbon, biomax and a filter sock...

but then again i have no sump, i have tap water, and a very low bio load...

chipmunkofdoom2 · 11-01-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burntricer

I have a skimmer, 35-40lbs of live rock, and plenty of flow, but im also running a 70 gal mechanical filter, with chemipure, carbon, biomax and a filter sock...

but then again i have no sump, i have tap water, and a very low bio load...

A good point. There are infinite combination of filtration equipment that can work depending on your circumstances.

BigAl07 · 11-01-2009, 11:20 PM

I am relying on Live Rock and Live Sand for my Filtration in most of my systems. A couple of them have the added benefit of a FUGE but they are more for the "Fun to look at aspect" than what I call part of my filtration system

DaveK · 11-01-2009, 11:58 PM

While not an absolute requirement on a berlin type system, some form of mechanical filtration is highly desirable. Yes, as others point out it should be cleaned or replaced regularly. Typically this is at least once a week. Filter socks work out well here because they are easy to change and clean. A filter sock will also trap the large particulate matter, so the skimmer doesn't need to extract it.

GreatWhiteShark · 11-02-2009, 09:24 PM

I use both a skimmer and a Hob filter with 1.5 lbs of live rock. The skimmer does an excellent job of removing small particles while the mechanical filter does great by removing impurities via activated carbon. The filter cartridges of course must be changed regularly or a increase of nitrates and phosphates can occur due to detritus buildup...

11-01-2009, 08:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
adsyrah Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 14 View Gallery Karma Komment	Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? I've been reading up a lot about Berlin Filtration. Now, simple question. If you've got plenty of live rock in your tank is it necessary to have a mechanical filter too? I'd like to avoid the need for an external filter (apart from a protein skimmer) so was wondering what opinions are out there about the perfect setup.

11-01-2009, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
chipmunkofdoom2 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,309 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? Most reef systems are run without mechanical filtration. Some have a filter sock of sorts, but any type of mechanical filtration has to be cleaned very regularly. The live rock is for putting wastes through the nitrogen cycle, and the mechanical filtration is for capturing the excess food and fish waste before they need to go through the nitrogen cycle. There really isn't a perfect setup, there's only the setup that works best for you. __________________ Will sell my body for ricordea DIY High Power LED Retro!

11-01-2009, 09:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
adsyrah Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 14 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? Cheers for the reply. So am I right to understand that live rock and a protein skimmer is enough?

11-01-2009, 09:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Clownfish518 Razorback Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas Posts: 1,551 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? i also use a filter sock and carbon a week out of the month __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham

11-01-2009, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
nightfire76 Neon dottyback Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: dickson,tn Posts: 695 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? me im running a marine land bio wheel 400 being that i dont have a sump,though next time i move and i keep my tank and such,i'll have a sump to it just because i'm not too sure it will be enough with my live rock and skimmer to keep up,though i still dont have fish in there so i cant really say until i do __________________ follow me on my slow aquarium and tell me what ya think http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...res-55gal.html 55gal koralia 4 aquac remora/maxi jet 1200 marineland 400 bio-wheel 70ish lbs live sand 40ish lbs live rock 1 long spine brown urchin 2 blue leg hermits 1 feather duster 3 clams 1 mysterious cream color crab 150ish snails and many unknowns SAINTS 10 & 0 undefeated still,brady...here we come HAPPY REEFING

11-01-2009, 10:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
burntricer Serpent Star Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 228 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? I have a skimmer, 35-40lbs of live rock, and plenty of flow, but im also running a 70 gal mechanical filter, with chemipure, carbon, biomax and a filter sock... but then again i have no sump, i have tap water, and a very low bio load... __________________ 55gal 2 Korila 1's 2 Chromis, 2 Clowns, Firefish a big zoo colony Sea Clone 100 Skimmer Aquaclear 70 Gal Filter 46 lbs of LR still workin on it, Weekly 15 gal w/c's!

11-01-2009, 11:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,551 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? I am relying on Live Rock and Live Sand for my Filtration in most of my systems. A couple of them have the added benefit of a FUGE but they are more for the "Fun to look at aspect" than what I call part of my filtration system __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

11-01-2009, 11:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
DaveK Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 1,370 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? While not an absolute requirement on a berlin type system, some form of mechanical filtration is highly desirable. Yes, as others point out it should be cleaned or replaced regularly. Typically this is at least once a week. Filter socks work out well here because they are easy to change and clean. A filter sock will also trap the large particulate matter, so the skimmer doesn't need to extract it.

11-02-2009, 09:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
GreatWhiteShark Star Polyps Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: United States, WI Posts: 166 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Filtration - live rock vs. mechanical? I use both a skimmer and a Hob filter with 1.5 lbs of live rock. The skimmer does an excellent job of removing small particles while the mechanical filter does great by removing impurities via activated carbon. The filter cartridges of course must be changed regularly or a increase of nitrates and phosphates can occur due to detritus buildup... __________________ The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Cousteau

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