Mechanical Filtration ?

[RIPTANK]

First, I would strongly recommend investing in a better skimmer like the Tunze 9002. The Remora skimmers are really poor at skimming. Had one and gave it away...

I run a Fluval 305 filled entirely with carbon in all 6 compartments on a 20 gallon and it keeps the water crystal clear. Great for LPS and fowler tanks but not for SPS.

[DiverDude]

I haven't been thrilled with the Remora actually (I get very little skimmate out of it). That issue aside, a skimmer is supposed to remove proteins from the water but doesn't appear to do much for particulate suspended in the water column -hence the interest in some kind of mechanical filter to physically remove 'bits'.

[mark]

something like use suggest, Aquaclear HOB, seems like a good idea. Fill it full of floss or foam pads. I wouldn't be fearful of a nitrate bomb taking out your tank but you'll need to clean or replace the media every once and while.

[ksalt]

You need to keep it all suspend in the water column so that the particulate goes into the filter / skimmer. i.e. add flow HTH

[hillegom]

If you had a sump, then you could put the drain from the DT into one of those filter socks and clean that out every 2-3 days.

[globaldesigns]

Hey, I have a aquaclear, let me know if you want it, will give it to you cheap.

[mike31154]

Many conventional powerheads, AquaClear for eg, offer an optional accessory 'cage' that may be fitted with a cylindrical poly filter. Easy to pop on and off, so no problem to clean/replace, plus you get the added water movement. One of those should polish your 30 fairly quickly. I use a Rena XP canister to run carbon but no longer put any other pads or filters in there, too much of a hassle to clean regularly. If you go the canister route you may be able to run those bio pellets in there without a separate reactor, dunno what those pellets do or how they work.