sump?

[gdlyorchi]

how big has to be your tank in order of not to use a sump, and use a over hang filter?

[tomgl]

There are many who do not use sumps even on the smallest tanks. Sumps and refugiums are big in the US but not as much in Europe. The extra water volume is a good thing but with good husbandry it's not necessary.

[gdlyorchi]

well, i was thinking on getting a 20 to 40 tank, I've seen some pic on the internet of nano reefs that aren't using sumps, and use regular freswater filters, now my question is, do I really need a sump for a small reef? (20g to 40g) or can I go away with a freshwater filter and do that biological filtration?

[wazupjames]

You dont need a sump for that size. I had a 28g, 29g and 34g running with no sumps for over 1 year. They all did great. Just make sure you have a nice skimmer and run some sort of carbon.

[kentlighting]

I love having my sump I can keep all the equipment in it and save my tank for the good stuff like corals


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[wazupjames]

I agree with you Kent. My new tank has a sump and I dont have anything up above. Although my other tanks were AIO tanks so all the **** was behind the false wall.

[tomgl]

You could do a hang on refugium on this tank. My 40 and 24 are tank and a quality skimmer, nothing else for filtration. Works for me, is cheap as long as i do my water changes and don't over feed. I am still a believer that the more water volume the better though.

[gdlyorchi]

my too Tom, but here is my main problem, there is not space on my house to have a 120-500 gallon tank, so I need to get something smaller, and I am a beginer, so thats what I want to know if I really need a sump on a 20-4Og tank or I can do everything on the main tank, and of corse I hate seen everything inside the tank, but hey, is that or no tank!!! lol

[kentlighting]

What are you planing on putting in this tank?

You don't need a sump for any tank really as long As long as you can provide the correct filtration with HOB equipment or canister filters. If you are planning on coral I would not even consider running with out a skimmer.


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[TheGreatAukSociety]

I have a tank with a sump, and a smaller one without. The sump makes it alot easier, but without is totally posssible to manage.

[Narazbad]

There are several advantages/disadvantages to a sump, but the main thing you have to look at is "Do I have the space for this".

Sumps can take up a lot of precious room that you sometimes can't afford to lose. Depending on your tank/stand size, it makes a huge difference of what you can and cannot fit in/on/around the tank itself. If you really want to try a sump, I have an extra ten gallon tank laying around the house that I can get you for a few bucks, you will need some glass cut to fit inside for compartments and some silicone to put it in. HOB overflows work just fine while you are trying it out. A pump with a speed equal to about 4-5 times the amount of water in the tank is what you will need to return it.

As I say, sumps are not for everyone, its your decision on if and where you can keep it. Try it out with a dry run first if you aren't sure, just for size comparison.

[gdlyorchi]

I do not have space for a sump =..( thats why im trying to se if I can run a tank with out it

[tomgl]

You can. I believe it's called a Berlin System. Several of us are doing the no sump on our additional tanks. You can also try a hang on back refugium if you want more.


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[Narazbad]

Let me know when you get the tank you want, I have something that might work for you...

[kleverbear]

Hey there, I ran into this same situation a month ago to use a sump or not. Well heres my 2 pesos.

I have a 36 gallon using an Aqueon 50 (rated for 50gal+ tank) It is 4 stager and a Whisper In-Tank Filter it help get my tank going with ease. I was able to cycle in 2 weeks and now I have my cuc and 2 Damsels in there right now and all my levels are 0, 0, 0, 5ppm. So to it seems safe to do it. Mind you i change 7gals of water every week to keep nit the levels low. I would recommend following their advice, has helped me a lot. i hope this info helps

[tbone74]

Hey there, I ran into this same situation a month ago to use a sump or not. Well heres my 2 pesos.

I have a 36 gallon using an Aqueon 50 (rated for 50gal+ tank) It is 4 stager and a Whisper In-Tank Filter it help get my tank going with ease. I was able to cycle in 2 weeks and now I have my cuc and 2 Damsels in there right now and all my levels are 0, 0, 0, 5ppm. So to it seems safe to do it. Mind you i change 7gals of water every week to keep nit the levels low. I would recommend following their advice, has helped me a lot. i hope this info helps

5ppm what?

[kleverbear]

@tbone
nitrate 20 ppm or less, mine is staying at about 5ppm

[jphendren]

I have a 55 gallon reef with no sump, and no skimmer either, although one is on the way. I just run a Rena XP3 canister, and have had no problems thus far. Canisters are detritus traps, that is what they do, and can become nitrate factories if not properly maintained. They however work great if they are cleaned weekly, not a huge job by the way. My nitrates are 0, although I only have 3 fish.

Jared

[bigronbo]

if you have a 40 gal on top you can do a overflow into a 20-30 gal right under the main tank and then skimmer and stuff is out of site only have the overflow