Is mechanical filtration neccesarry?

[drew1092]

I am just getting into this hobby with a new 30 gallon setup. Right now I am cycling with some blue and jade hermits and 35 lbs LR and live sand. I have a CPR bak pak 2 skimmer and a HOB marineland 280 mechanical filter. Is the mechanical filter (biowheel, carbon, and pads) really neccesarry or is the skimmer LR combo sufficent? I really hate that big ugly filter! Thanks for the help.

[quader94]

Welcome to TRT !

the skimmer lr is sufficient

you can get rid of the hob filter but can run carbon everyonce in a while

[Loverotties]

+1

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

Tim said it. Just keep the biowheel filter for an as needed piece of eqipment in case you need to run carbon or some other type of media; however, you can throw the biowheel part of it away as you will never need that.

[drew1092]

Thanks for the replys! This is great forum, I have been reading tons of your threads. HOB filter is gone. Will be getting a UV sterilizer for extra algae bloom protection too. Anyone use the Coralife turbotwist 8 or 9V sterilizer? I am impressed with some of their other products.

[aquawolf]

I do not use a UV Sterilizer on any of my tanks. I believe the money can be better spent on a different piece of equipment, such as a better skimmer.

[finaddictfred]

+1 on the better skimmer and ditto on the UV. Water quality through testing and water changes.

[Loverotties]

I think you ment 8 or 9Watts not volts.I've never heard anything bad with them.