skimmerless system requirements?

[segraves1]

so then wouldn't running carbon then just be like swapping one filter out for another? I'm "trying" to go "all natural" (if there is such a thing)......

[PurpleAardvark]

I agree with on the clams as not being key, however big clams have been known to affect water quality. I would say sponges would be more key as they are opften refurred to as natures skimmer for there ability to pull out waste.
By sps I ment montipora, acropora, ect... sorry I did not calarify that. I find that alot of sps other acro's are adaptive to different water quilty, one that comes to mind is the blue ridge coral which if you had alot of light would be a nice addition to this sceme.
I guess since no one else said this I would take everything in small steps. Alot of the stuff we are talking about here sponges, clams, sps, ect... are something you would not want to put in a tank right away. That is also why I recommended the carbon, pura complete also has a posphate remover in which is why I chose to recommend that one. That is the on draw back I see usless you have a ref. 3x the size of the main tank, whould be the posphates. But like any system there always is a couple of draw backs. I hope that the progress is posted on this system it is one area that I have read about but never seen some one do. It is very interesting.

[RWalston]

Want to skimmerless have you thought about the mud system?

[PurpleAardvark]

Mud the magical snake oil. Good system but I don't know if that would fall under the natural catogory, but it is more natural than carbon. I would still suggest a skimmer with a mud system. By the way yes snake oil is the magical ingr. to the mud. Alot of people have good luck with the systems as long as they change the mud like directed. Good suggestion.

[segraves1]

well thanks everyone........after talking to people and reading a lot, I think I'm going to ditch the "skimmerless" idea, put a good sized skimmer on, and not worry about if I'm going to crash my system 6 months down the road...

thanks again though......