A sump tank or not?

[Flobajob]

(Thanks for the link by the way - I think I'll get a sump)

 

[Gooli]

i am looking to switch skimmers myself...i am going with ASM G2 - you can probably do the G1

 

[Flobajob]

I don't think they sell ASMs in England. I've tried a few websites but there's nothing on them.

 

[Mike.B]

I would definetly get a sump for 1 main reason, it hides heaters pumps, filtration, top off systems, plumbing, reactors and anything else you can think of. Sure you can get away with not having a sump, but your first problem will be with the intense lighting that saltwater requires(reefs) you'll find it impossible to keep all the equipment in the tank clean. Another nice thing about having a sump is doing water changes, no more lifting off the canopy, lifting a 5 gallon bucket 5 feet up and surging the tank with new water. Also having a sump evaporation will show up in the sump, not the display tank and you wont have to mix top off water and saltwater in your display reducing any stress to your fish, coral etc.

There are many benefits to a sump and will make working on you tank way easier.

 

[Flobajob]

Thanks. By the way, with a marine tank do you ever have trouble when you want to go on holiday, or is it not a problem just leaving the tank for 2 weeks or so?

 

[Gooli]

good question, my british friend

Depending on how automated your setup is...i personally need someone to feed my fish daily and my water resovoir can run out in 3 days...so it all depends...i guess an auto-feeder may be helpful - but nothing beats a neighbor or family memeber that can be trusted and follow instructions.

cheers

 

[Flobajob]

I don't think evaporation is a problem with the weather we get here - I only have to top up my tropical tank once every three weeks to a month or so. No water changes for two weeks wouldn't be an issue, would it?

 

[Gooli]

well, first - if you plan to have a reef, the heat from the powerful lights will cause more evaporation that you are used to. my 90G tank evaporates roughly 1 gallon a day.

i've done much research in the water change matter, and as long as you do 20% monthly, you should be good. So it could mean 5% weekly, 10% bi-weekly, etc... i like bi-weekly because it's not as hard as doing 20% and not as frequent as the 5% weekly.

do u plan on running a reef with corals or just salt water fish?

 

[Flobajob]

I want to start with just fish, but eventually have corals - I'll have to see how it goes. Ideally I'd like corals. I've heard that you don't need halides for the corals though - you can use a mixture of fluorescents (so the heat wouldn't be an issue so much).

 

[TitansFan]

Yes as gooliver stated heat is an issue with reef tanks. You add in the lights, extra flow pumps, return pump, skimmer pump ect.. you get higher heat which can involve more evaporation. You need to also take into account salanity something new for you coming from freshwater. Salt doesnt evaporate so as water evaporates salinty rises. An auto top-off helps keep salinity stable.

Yes some corals can do great under fluorescents. I personally like the "shimmer" effect I get from halides. T5 lights are a good option though to check into. Either way I have big fans in my canopy and use evaporation as a major way of cooling the water temp. This is made much easier with an auto top-off.

You are doing great with the questions. One of the hard things it took me to grasp was equipment purchases. I can't tell you how much I have wasted on equipment I thought I could get by with. I now have a garage full of it.

Being that you are across the pond its hard to know what equipment you have available to you. One thing you could check into is trying to find a local reef club. I love mine and have learned soo much from them. Not to mention the corals and used equipment I have picked up from it.

As your topic's first question.. I will stand by that a sump makes life so much easier and is so worth it. They are easy to build yourself as well. This hobby cost much more than fresh water. Just don't tell my wife that.

 

[Gooli]

Titanfan is right...i cant tell you how many times i ended up buying equipment and then selling it 6 months later and than buying something better...you gotta listen to others with experience and do it right from the start.

I remember when people told me.."you gotta spend $$$ on this and that" and I said to myself - "this is bull - i dont need to spend that much - it's just a marketing thing" - I was wrong

 

[Flobajob]

I certainly will need to get an auto top-off. Thanks a load for your help.

 

[Mike.B]

Your skimmer cup will need a drain into a large container when your gone.

 

[Flobajob]

Can you just shove a bucket under it though - or is that a problem?

 

[Gooli]

most likely, a bucket would take lots of room that may be needed for other stuff...i wouldnt

 

[Flobajob]

What would you do then?

 

[Gooli]

skimmer cups sometimes have a drain option in the cup where you feed a small tube from the cub to a 1 liter soda bottle or something.
I don't have this on mine...i just empty the cup every few days - no big deal - but it's a nice option to have.

 

[Avi]

That is one of my main concerns, because along with fish-keeping I gotta travel, too. So when I set my feef up, I did it in a way that...I think...enables me to go off to Italy or somewhere else and not worry...too much...about my reef. I think that the main "compromise" that I made in order to do that is no SPS. I have loads of soft coral and LPS but my only hard coral are hydnaphora and, that's it. Since I set up my tank, I left it three times for two weeks or more. My buddy cares for the tank (and my three freshwater tanks, too) and all he has to do is top off the sump and feed the fish in the tank....no coral feeding, no additives, no dosing. And he feeds flakes...just flakes. He's not a fishkeeper himself, so I don't want to ask too much of him and I figure the less done, the less chance of a complication. My skimmer is an Aqua-C EV-180 with the additional canister they offer so everything's all right with that for the two weeks. I leave in two weeks for a 12-day vacation...I'm still a little nervous....Oh, yeah...get a skimmer...and get a good one.

 

[Flobajob]

Thanks. So I just need to make sure the skimmer has a drain option on it and I should be fine.

 

[Avi]

I think so. I was initially going to get a Euroreef when I bought a skimmer but I called them about a resevoir for it and they told me they don't offer one and I should drill the collection cup and attach a coffee can. I thought that would be kind of shabby so I got the Aqua-C and I'm very happy with it. They offer two collection resevoirs and I got the larger one. And, don't forget topping off the sump in this warmer weather...Have a good trip.