50b Sumpless Mixed Reef Build!

sporazoa said:
Have you run a sump in the past? How do you compare life with a reef in sump-less mode?

You are saving a bunch on not needing a sump & pumping water back up
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IMO there are 3 main factors between sump vs sumpless.

1. In sump skimmers are better, so if you have too high of a bioload you may struggle.

2. Equipment in the sump rather than the tank.

3. Increased water volume for stability.

#1 has never been an issue for me since I don't overstock and don't overfeed. Very pleased with my HOB skimmers but have to stock it more before I can fully comment. I don't anticipate any issues.

#2 doesn't bother me, I did a good job of blending everything in.

#3 I haven't had any issues with stability.


I certainly think having a sump is better, I just couldn't have one and didn't have one on my first salt tank. When I move in 7 months and buy a house, I 100% will have a sump. Not because I need one, but because it's easier and I want to buy a sick skimmer so I can have a lot of fish [emoji3]
 
BigJohnny said:
I actually run both in the mini, a mix of 2:1 carbon:gfo. Perfect for up to 50g tank, and mine is no where near fully stocked. You def don't need a full reactor, or a dual full reactor, unless you want one.

If you use a mix you have to pack it tight so that it doesn't tumble. If you tumble a mix of gfo and carbon, the gfo grinds up the carbon(or the other way around I forget). The only reason you tumble gfo is so it lasts longer, it doesn't actually improve the efficiency of the gfo. I personally prefer to use less and switch it out more frequently anyway, so the levels stay more consistent. If you use it a long time and then switch it out, there can be a sudden drop in phosphate with the new media.

The only downside is that gfo lasts longer than carbon, so if you switch them both out at the same time (which I do since they are mixed obviously), your not getting full bang for your buck on the gfo. Since I prefer to switch the gfo out before it runs out anyway, and I enjoy having everything in a small reactor together for easy use and maintenance, the difference is negligible to me.

I am very happy with the results and my phosphate level stays consistent. Watch these 2 vids:

https://youtu.be/jNH-ldTMVso

https://youtu.be/ezQfrJeVZXQ
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Thanks man. Yea I've watched those videos a while back, good info there.was just wondering if it worked for you. I may just buy 2 minis so I can run them separately. I came back home and the tank is running strong. Nothing crazy going. Just want to start running some carbon and gfo for preventative measures. Still running skimmerless at the moment. Filter socks work wonders at least for me so far.
 
Isaacs55 said:
Thanks man. Yea I've watched those videos a while back, good info there.was just wondering if it worked for you. I may just buy 2 minis so I can run them separately. I came back home and the tank is running strong. Nothing crazy going. Just want to start running some carbon and gfo for preventative measures. Still running skimmerless at the moment. Filter socks work wonders at least for me so far.
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Yep been working great. 2 seperate reactors is def ideal if you have the space. Yea I always run carbon for water clarity, odor reduction, and just incase any toxins are in the tank from corals or otherwise. I run gfo so I can feed my fish n corals heavy and not upset my acros[emoji106]
 
I don't really have the space but i'm going to cram in a the BRS dual reactor in my sump area. Will have to pull a magic trick off to make it happen, but I'd rather just get the dual and be done with it.
 
BigJohnny, FYI Pacific East Aquaculture is running 30% off all their frags right now. I think I've got the wife set up right now with letting me pull the trigger on a few pieces and going to plan a trip down there next saturday. will probably get a few acans, some sort of encrusting coral, and look for a hammer and torch
 
MJV0103 said:
I don't really have the space but i'm going to cram in a the BRS dual reactor in my sump area. Will have to pull a magic trick off to make it happen, but I'd rather just get the dual and be done with it.
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You can always mount it on the wall behind or next to the tank or on the sides of the stand, worst case. Any of em are good, many people have great success with the dual. Pretty sure it's the most popular option.
 
MJV0103 said:
BigJohnny, FYI Pacific East Aquaculture is running 30% off all their frags right now. I think I've got the wife set up right now with letting me pull the trigger on a few pieces and going to plan a trip down there next saturday. will probably get a few acans, some sort of encrusting coral, and look for a hammer and torch
Click to expand...

Nice, unfortunately I have wayyyy too many frags already haha. Just got like 6 more last week. I'll post pics soon, new ones are as follows:

-Fantasia Millepora
-Bumblebee Millepora
-PC Superman Tabling Acropora
-Tyree Red Dragon Acropora
-Tequila Sunset Millepora
-Red Hot Lava Chalice
-Darth Maul Porites

Will be trading my Pink Prostrata Acropora frag for a Screaming Mentos Sarmentosa mini colony tomorrow night. [emoji106]

I found a local reefer with the sickest tank I've ever seen with more sps than any online vendor or lfs I've seen. It's absurd. He frags daily and hooks up big frags for ridiculous prices, it's a problem haha. I am so addicted right now.
 
Ha, I'm addicted as well. I find myself mapping LFS locations on my phone so that if I'm out traveling I can pop in and check on the new store. I've picked up a piece at noon one day during work and told my boss I wasn't feeling well so I could get home.
 
Here are some new frag shots under full lighting, I didn't have time to use the dslr unfortunately. They look a lot better/more colorful under actinics in person and all the acros are still acclimating.

Darth Maul Porites
077214719e4c7583dfe745807a894d99.jpg


Tequila Sunset Millepora
c57b98ec89dc2bd9a66be42707799438.jpg


CC Fuzzy Rainbow Acro (will be blue with pink/white polyps)
225a46e46a636eae76a05a55f2ff9d5a.jpg


Superman Tabling Acro (will be red with blue tips)
d0b8f2a37a863ef95ed4a37c42487c33.jpg


Bumblebee Millepora (it's actually blue with yellow coralites but looks different on the camera)
5be9df555206e2348c879cb8a938c1c3.jpg


Fantasia Millepora (under actinics it's pink with purple tips)
3307f697198769ed902e67d05ce25558.jpg


Red Hot Lava Chalice (has crazy glowing neon red eyes)
832dad6fdad16b5b3b8e5a8f1b5323eb.jpg
 
I got 5 of those last 6 frags from this tank, it's ridiculous. Local reefer, now my new favorite vendor haha:

https://vimeo.com/143436575

He literally has more sps than any online vendor or lfs I've ever seen, it's nuts. Also sick prices, just a cool dude that loves the hobby and wants to share the fun. He cuts frags almost daily of different stuff. The saddest part is that the video doesn't even show half of his tank!
 
MJV0103 said:
Damn it man, you can't show me stuff like that. It'll make me drive down there from DC
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well if you do man, he'd love to hook you up to and ill make it happen. dude is the ultimate bro. Tanks been running for 7 years so he knows what he is talking about fooooor sure. Just looking at the tank is worth the trip honestly.
 
MJV0103 said:
Is that Jason Fox's tank. I just found a video of the whole 700g tank on richmond reefers
.....that thing might be the 8th wonder of the world

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m6oPG7ndEEU&feature=share
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No its not jason foxs tank, but the guy who owns the tank im referring to did post a video of jason foxs 700g on richmond reefers, so i could see where you made that connection. But yea, that tank is aaaaaaaaaaaaaabsolutely ridiculous. Sweet video too
 
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