Can I take out my filter?

[picardoflik]

Just a question- I have a 30gal tank currently inhabited by 2 ocellarius clowns and a cleaner shrimp along with various CUC. I have a prizm protien skimmer and a dual bio-wheel filter going. Question is can I remove the filter and be ok? I have ~ 30lbs of live rock although 12lbs had been purchased as liverock and the other 19lbs was dead rock that has been in the tank for about 3 weeks now.

The only filter media in the filter other than the 2 bio wheels is two cartridges filled with shell-like material. No chemical or charcoal filtration.

 

[OceanCrazy]

I took the wheels out of mine,cause i read somewhere it will create high nitrate.

 

[wontonflip]

The problem with removing them is that you will essentially be removing the nitrifying bacteria that's grown on there. But there's no easy way to do it. Maybe remove them one at a time -- maybe a 2 week gap in between removal.

 

[kbuser92]

I have rock rubble in mine. Try that.

 

[picardoflik]

ok- so the consensus is yes but remove each bio wheel one at a time over say a 2 week period??

 

[dschertz]

OK, I see a lot of conversation about filter/no filter. If it causes nitrates to go up then why do you need to remove the wheels one at a time?

 

[kbuser92]

Because theres beneficial bacteria on the wheels.