Natural filtration at any size?

[NanoAmyDee]

I know this spreads into the life of large tanks, but has anyone seen a 50g or larger survive for a good amount of time with completely natural filtration? (no skimmer or filter, just power heads, lots of rock and sand, good lighting and weekly water changes)

 

We have been successful in small tanks, and I would love to do one on a larger scale. The biggest we have done is 50g breeder tank.

 

Any links would be appreciated. Any nanofreaks out there doing larger tanks as well? I really don't want to haver to build a new room just to house filters, skimmers, and sumps for a 200g.

[NanoAmyDee]

I would ask this question on reefcentral.com but I would be shot

[eums]

builds the new room. i have a 55 low and a 10 reg tied together, only filter i have is a remora with the skimmer box, no sump or any of that jazz. my tank looks great, no algae, lots of sps. my fav being my tricolor blue tenuis

[wetworx101]

My main reef is a true natural-methods tank (no skimmer, no UV, etc). It is a 60gallon, however the whole system is over 200gallons. Behind the wall of the tank is a three-level rack with a 75gallon sump on the bottom. Above this is a 45gallon (48Lx28"Wx12"H) that has a 5"DSB and plenum in it (with lots of sand sifting & detrious eating critters). Above this is another 45gallon I use as a fuge (with the mud and macro). I am going on 18months without changing any water (other than dosing iodine in the top off res, there isnt anything else added either).

 

The plenum takes care of the nitrates, but does have side effects. It raises the TOC, aka the organics, along with phosphates. The fuge absorbs phosphates and organics...as well as nitrate (in case the plenum ever starts breaking down and starts giving off nitrates). So these two balance out. The plenum also has a negative effect on the alkalinity, and I knew I didnt want to dose calcium forever, so i added a calcium reactor. I dont know if this kicks me out of the totally natural category, but it really helps keep the alkalinity stable and calcium up. This, the iodine in the top-off, and the mud replenish the trace elements and nutrients that otherwise get stripped out of the water without water changes. So far, so good. The clams are really diggin all the floating critters (I dont want to say just plankton, as the mysid shrimps and pods are producing like mad in there) that the fuge and plenum are making. There are 8 good sized fish in the tank, including a mandarin, that I dont even have to feed cuz all the natural food...and they are al fat pigs.

 

Why so big? I wanted to get the system right, as this is my first attempt at a 100% natural reef. I wanted to make it modular so that if say, the plenum went south, all I would have to do is turn off the pump that feeds it. And then the plan is to replace the 60gallon cube (24") with a 120 gallon (48x24x24). All I have to do is swap out the tank, stand and add another 400watt bulb.

 

I really dig all the critters in this setup. I find myself watching the plenum tank with the little 40watt viewing lamp (otherwise this tank is left dark) as much as the main tank. I must have a few dozen brittle stars in there now, at least one or two that are 12" now. It makes a great place for the feather star that I have in the main tank when it gets beat up by all the waves in the main tank. The horseshoe crabs and other siftersa are just sooo cool.

[NanoAmyDee]

That is a bit more mechanical than I was thinking, but that sounds great! The 18 months without water change is awesome as well.

 

I see these reefs these guys have set up on Reef-Central.com and they have built extra rooms just to house the sumps and protien skimmers and filters and what-not. I want a tank that is as natural as possible.

 

Just curious, but if you have two items that cancel each other out then why have them? I don't mind doing water changes, which is different than the the goal that you have. So maybe those are needed for that reason.

 

Thanks!