Can I go sumpless with these dimensions?

[coral acquisition]

Tank Length = 100 inches
Tank Width = 24 inches
Tank Height = 24 inches
Tank volume is calculated as

Tank Volume = 249.4 Gallons

Will contain nano fish and live sand and live rock only for filtration. Will contain mostly LPS and Zoanthids and Mushrooms.

Questions:
1. Can I get away with just water change on a tank this big?
2. Do you recommend glass or acrylic for a tank this size?
3. Do you recommend a metal stand or wood would be ok?
4. With such small fish, can I get away without a skimmer too?

I'm planning on keeping this simple and use DIY LED to light the tank too.

This would go on top of new hardwood floors and would the weight put an indentation on the hardwood floor?


Thanks

 

[jpsika08]

I would recommend a Sump, you don't want to have a big fancy tank with heaters, pumps and other devices in the main display, this is what the sump is for.

Just to answer your first question, Water changes won't keep up with your Ca, Alk and Mg consumption levels at some point, you will need to dose your system or install a CA Reactor as corals and fish consume these elements, the more there are the more consumption rate you will have.

I have heard some people go without Skimmer but for me, that's the heart of the system's filtration, just imagine swimming within a pool of poop and nothing to take it out

Question two and three are totally optional, both have cons and pros which I Won't go there as it's always a major discussion starter.

 

[coral acquisition]

I was thinking of doing an all-in-one tank where the filtration is in the back.
The house stays pretty cool and with such a big water volume, I'm thinking that I would not need a chiller. Plus the ac is on all summer long anyways.

I was also thinking with a 25% water change every 2 weeks, if that would be enough to
to keep my levels in check. Again, I wont be dealing with sps so I don't think I would need a CA Reactor.

I've done skimmerless with a 60gal and sumpless and I've had great success with just water change. So I was thinking if that would be possible with a bigger tank.

 

[oxx155]

I wish you the best of luck but it just seems to me to be excuses for doing less work.
In my personal opinion you should replace chemicals and waterchanges alone won't be enough. And some form of filtration being mechanical or biological (other than sand or rock) is mandatory (in my opinion).
Having a tank with no support system is asking for death.
Sorry to be harsh, I just hate to think a fish could live a longer life with a just a little extra effort.

 

[dzfish17]

Im not using a sump on my 600g but I agree that a skimmer is a good idea. If you could see the stuff that my skimmer pulls out of the lightly stocked tank you would be surprised. I have alot of LR, tons of flow and the skimmer to remove waste. You may be able to pull it off if you do alot of waterchanges and keep the tank very lightly stocked. I would at least use some mechanical filtration like stated above.

 

[coral acquisition]

oxx115 - no excuses or being lazy, just wanted other options and I was
Thinking of doing an all in one tank w filtration on back. Overflows n I dont get along and I've had past problems w them.

I want to go sumpless cause I really want a clean look and the area I will have the tank wont have room for a sump at the. Bottom since it will be by a wall and the bottom part
Would be covere with the sofa.

I might have to get a hang on back skimmer but then I will have to cut dont on the tank
Depth for that. Again, no room for a sump unless i drill the wall and have a dedicated
Outside filtration. But dont know if the parents will be ok w that.

 

[jpsika08]

An HOB for a tank like that, maybe having two of the Super Reef Octopus HOB XP -1000.

At the end, an all-in-one system is much more work when giving maintenance, just cleaning the back chambers is a real PITA.

If you can do the sump, good for you, if not, keeping the tank like that is possible just got to re-think your strategy for the equipment part; good luck and hope you proceed with it and start a thread.

 

[coral acquisition]

jpsika - thanks, still contemplating on what to do, I know I cant have a sump since there will be a couch by the stand and I don't think rearranging the furniture would make the living room look balanced.

I know having an aio would be more maintenance to clean but with the set up I'm thinking, I really don't have a choice.

I still need to look for the best price I can for the tank, I'm thinking glass but also thinking that I'm in Los Angeles and incase of an earthquake, it might break on me. I don't know if acrylic would be better but I don't like acrylic cause it scratches too easily.

I would really want an outdoor filtration system and go crazy on it, like 2-3 of those gray bins and have chaeto to raise pods, since I want a mandarin and just to have more water volume.

I would also want to go as little power consumption as I can. That's why I wanted to go DIY LEDs and have easy to keep corals, no sps at all. That's why I don't think I need to get a CA reactor.

As for water change, I have access to Scripps Natural Salt Water to a good price so it would be easier for me to do water changes. Also thinking, if I have the filtration outside, then it would be easier to do the water change.

Just thought of another question: Does anyone have filtration outside? What will that do to my temperature. The sump will be under shade but it gets to be 100F here or more during summer. Also, what about evaporation? I can cover the sump so that and also from debris falling in the sump.

I wonder if having a big filtration like that would keep the temp stable.

 

[lucidheights]

i think its do-able without a sump, you just have to do lots of water changes and add 2 part once in a while depending on what you keep. You should be able to hide a heater behind rock work, and perhaps get some HOB skimmers. However i do assure you that, doing this without a sump will not give you that clean look you want.

 

[coral acquisition]

The heater can be hidden in the back of the filtration (AIO)

 

[Paul B]

I never had a sump (they were not invented when I set up the tank) so you don't need one. I also change water about 5 or 6 times a year but I do add some home made calcium.
For the weight, that is a heavy tank and if you are only having 4 contact points for the stand on the floor, it will put some dents in. You also need to make sure you are exactly on a couple of rafters as the plywood in between the rafters will not hold that tank.

 

[coral acquisition]

Paul B

I've built stands before and I always over do it, so if I build a stand for this. I think I will use 2x4s and 4x4s and maybe have contact points every 2feet just to be sure. Since I wont be running a sump then it should be good.

The house is over foundation so no problems with the house holding the weight.

I've met a few people that do less water change and or no water change at all. I don't know how that is but I've seen their tanks with great results. You must have a green thumb for saltwater tanks and your sand and rocks are really mature and stable.

 

[Voxboy]

I wish you the best of luck but it just seems to me to be excuses for doing less work.
In my personal opinion you should replace chemicals and waterchanges alone won't be enough. And some form of filtration being mechanical or biological (other than sand or rock) is mandatory (in my opinion).
Having a tank with no support system is asking for death.
Sorry to be harsh, I just hate to think a fish could live a longer life with a just a little extra effort.

Ya...maybe a little harsh. It's an honest question the op is asking.

My last tank was a 120 sumpless. Awesome tank with no issues. LPS and softies with a couple sps. 7 fish and the usual cleanup crew. A solid wood stand with 2x4 construction is fine. There are some good plans in the diy section so do a search on that.
Skimmer is a must imo. Would you consider a hang on fuge. I am upgrading to a 180 sumpless in January.

 

[coral acquisition]

Thanks Voxboy, I like hearing the opinion of other and someone pm'd me with their tank, it was pretty awesome and was sumpless.

I will just be keeping softies, zoas and some lps which can have a little "dirty water", by thank I meant, I think I can get away with my parameters, not like keeping sps'.

It's not that I won't keep up with my parameters or water changes, I currently keep a nano and a pico tank that I service everyday. i think part of the fun factor of having such small tanks is that you have to keep up at it. Plus, then I get to stare at the tank for an hour or two while cleaning and maintaining the tanks. (I think some people get so used to their 'automated' equipment that they forget about checking parameters and enjoying their tank) but that's just my opinion.

Anyways, I still need to look for a good tank manufacturer, I was going to go acrylic but now I think I want glass so it doesn't scratch too easily. I don't think I would go with starfire since someone told me that it would scratch easily cause they take out the iron on the glass so it's clearer. (is that true)?

I would like to go eurobraced to make it stronger.

For now, I'm still thinking of what filtration I really want to do. I don't want to do a hang on fuge and was thinking if I can just have some grape caulerpa or other algae in the tank for some filtration too and maybe a mangrove.

Also, my friend is getting me into sps and grows them out like crazy, so we'll see, I might have to change my whole plan for the tank.

Thanks for all the input guys. Keep them coming.

 

[bullitr]

Tim
If i were you i will run the filtration outside the house
Come back later on I didn't have that much time to talk to you about the system.

 

[coral acquisition]

Yeah was thinking about running it outside but now thinking about what would happen in case there's an earthquake. I don't want the tank falling and pulling out part of the wall too. lol

Will check out your tank more, it's such an awesome tank and I want one that big.
Just have to make some time. I missed another SFVR meet.

 

[Jamie9169]

I think having a sump simplifies the entire process, and adds more volume to your system, which is always a good thing. I use sumps on all my set ups, from the smallest cube to the one hundred fifty reef. Just seems to make things simpler for maintenance and hiding equipment for me.

 

[coral acquisition]

That's true. I'm still thinking of what setup and equipment I'll be using.
It won't be an sps tank so I know I don't need a calcium reactor or a really big skimmer.

I might also get NSW delivered so I can do a nice big water change every 2 weeks.