how much simpler can FOWLR be?

[Reef Pilot]

Not sure if you really need a bio pellet reactor in a FOWLR. Before I got my upstairs tank all cleaned up (was a 10+ year running tank), nitrates were as high as 100 ppm, and almost never below 30. Fish didn't seem to mind, and even had a bunch of softies and some LPS that did fine as well.

If you have a good skimmer, socks (or big sponge like I do now), change larger amounts of water (20%+), and have good flow, I would think that should be good. And no dosing, or GFO, etc,... just lots of live rock.