No mechanical filter

[Lionfish77]

I have a biocube 8 gallon. in the first chamber i have carbon and live rock rubble and maybe a heater im still choosing if i want it there. In the second chamber i have chaeto and then a mini 606 pump. There was suppose to be filter floss at the top but the store told me that the chaeto can do that job so, no mechanical filter. Is this true am i alright with out it.

[James77]

Welcome to Reef Central!! :wave:

Chaeto will act as a nutrient sponge, absorbing nutrients through growth, enabling you to remove them from your system. That is the first I have heard of using it as a mecahnical filter, and it seems silly. A good mechanical filter to run is a filter sock on the drain....though they require frequent cleaning to prevent it becoming( and I hate this term) a nitrate factory from decomposing waste.

That said...I have never run mechanical filtration on any of my reef tanks. The detritus accumulates in the sump by itself and I siphon it during water changes.