Does anyone run a tank without bio balls or sponge media?

[Cichlid Dad]

Rock, sand, Skimmer and refugium only.

 

[Spare time]

I like biomedia and sponges for seeding tanks but other than that they are not that useful in 99% of cases imo.

 

[mousehunter]

Most have probably covered it. I have one tank running with one of those filtration systems. Besides being mostly redundant, it is also mostly ineffective. It is also my largest cleaning annoyance. The bio balls probably do a decent job at biological filtration - but I have a much better bio filter in that tank already. The floss is not a great mechanical filter - but if it was it would clog even faster than it already does. Water changes are my real main mechanical filter. Perhaps I will get rid of my bioballs and floss - but they have been on that tank for over 15 years.

At the end of the day, a bio filter just means surface area - and macro algae has a lot of surface area. Plus it is a nitrate sponge. Plenty of filter media out there - the only question is what are you willing to maintain. The better the media - the more maintenance. Money can kind of help that somewhat - you can always use disposable media I guess. Next tank (the one I am currently building) will have a roller filter.

I guess I could give bioballs and floss a little credit - they are probably space efficient.