Filtration without sump

[cy88]

Hi all,

I am wondering what's the best setup for filtration without the use of a sump?

Is sump always better?

Thanks for all advices.
Chris

 

[stingythingy45]

What size tank?

 

[cy88]

I am planning to setup a 55G.

 

[Jocephus]

It depends on what you would like to keep. If only fish, get a good canister, a HOB skimmer, and a couple of powerheads. If corals, you may be able to get by with a HOB skimmer, & powerheads, provided you have enough live rock/sand.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

a HOB skimmer, and at least 55lbs of LR should be the only filtration you would need.

 

[cy88]

The reason I ask, is because I have a condo and I try to minimize the amount of equipments or I should say minimize size of the setup.

Other than the extra water flow the sump will provide, what other benefits I am missing from not having a sump?

I am planning to keep fishes and corals.

Thanks.

 

[stingythingy45]

I have fish,LPS,softies and even Monti cap in my 55 gallon.
I have a HOB skimmer,and HOB filter running phosphate removal pad and carbon.And 2 maxi-jet PHs.
It's nice to have a sump to hide Skimmer/other equipment and to dose and water/changes.I hope to put a basement sump/ref. soon.

 

[ejrabekoff]

An HOB protein skimmer, and a good canister filter.

 

[cy88]

If i want to add a sump in the future, would it be alot of trouble?

 

[papagimp]

One of the main reasons I use a sump/fuge (besides the typical equpiment placement, and fuge benefits of course) is the ability to judge my evaporation easier than without a sump. I just look down in the sump and know to fill up to my prevous marked spot. On my tanks without sumps/fuges i have to pull the refractometer out when i top off to make sure i add enough and not too much. Sure i could place an unsightly mark on my tank to assist, but don't wanna.

cy88, adding a sump in the future can be easy as all possible, but at the same time depending on the setup, it can be a massive pain in the rear end. My 75g tank has to be emptied enough for me to move it off the stand to pull/add a sump through the top of the stand. That sucks. My 55g I have to drain enough to pull it away from the way so i can shove a sump behind it and under the stand. The ease of adding one late will all depend on the type of setup you have, how you want to plumb it, and how easily accessable the area under the stand will be. Can you fit a resevoir through the doors or does it have to fit through the top. stuff like that.

 

[cy88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11389968#post11389968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
One of the main reasons I use a sump/fuge (besides the typical equpiment placement, and fuge benefits of course) is the ability to judge my evaporation easier than without a sump. I just look down in the sump and know to fill up to my prevous marked spot. On my tanks without sumps/fuges i have to pull the refractometer out when i top off to make sure i add enough and not too much. Sure i could place an unsightly mark on my tank to assist, but don't wanna.

cy88, adding a sump in the future can be easy as all possible, but at the same time depending on the setup, it can be a massive pain in the rear end. My 75g tank has to be emptied enough for me to move it off the stand to pull/add a sump through the top of the stand. That sucks. My 55g I have to drain enough to pull it away from the way so i can shove a sump behind it and under the stand. The ease of adding one late will all depend on the type of setup you have, how you want to plumb it, and how easily accessable the area under the stand will be. Can you fit a resevoir through the doors or does it have to fit through the top. stuff like that.

Thank you for your information.

The area that I have to work with is rather small. Also, it is going to be on a carpeted area (living room). Having that said, I would like to have the minimal amount of work when doing regular maintainance on the tank. I am under the assumption that there will be more water movement with the sump, so that it might get the carpet wet and might not good for long term.

On the other hand, I am afraid this is one of those "you rather do it now than later" thing, and the canister and skimmer alone isn't good enough for the filtration.

 

[Davidb6]

There is one thing I learned about caring for my tank...you will spill water...it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Get yourself a cheap 6x8 carpet from HD and lay it down every time you work on the tank. Any spills will be absorbed and no problem.

FYI - I have a 65 with a skimmer and a HOB refug. I recently added an FX5 to help with tank cleaning. My next set-up will have a sump, no question. Not because it's needed for the tank, but because it's easier for me.

 

[papagimp]

Agree with David on this one, I use a waterproofed tarp i lay down when doing tank maintanence. and FWIW, with my sump, I really don't get any water splillage on the carpet or even under the stand anywhere. You don't really get "more" water movement with a sump, just a different source of water movment. Instead of having that extra powerhead in the tank for current, you have a return pump adding more current. The display tanks in my house have loads more water movement at the surface than my sump/fuge does. That's a lot lower flow, and doesn't splash out or anything. If you did have splashing going on, theirs plenty of options to fix that.

I'm definatly one of those, best to do it now kinda people, but I didn't get my first refugium setup until after a year in the hobby. Since then, i've only attempted two tanks without sumps, One is a 2.5g nano tank, the other is a minimal equpiment baby raising tank (bangaii's). Also, FWIW, my first 10g DIY sump cost me less than $50 and turned my crappy, severely noob attempt at saltwater 55g into a beautiful display i could be proud of. The difference was unbelievable. so, carpet/floor damage vs. a sump, I'd go with the sump any day and try my best not to make a mess.

 

[cy88]

Alright, I think I am convinced to have a sump.

Onto another question - do people usually buy the predrilled tank and the sump? Or do they make it? I am refer to the general people, not the ones that have the talent to build those in wall systems (I am not a handy man)

 

[Newlin]

I have a 55 with a sump and I just use the overflow boxes. I had to get a sump and stand that worked together. I went with the biggest sump that I could get away with and I'm happy with it.

 

[cy88]

Are the overflow boxes a good long term way? Since I heard that they can flood in the case of power failure?

 

[papagimp]

I would imagine "most" people are buying pre-manufacturered units. But building your own is super easy to do. I bought one unit way back when, saw what it was and how much I had paid and swore i'd never do that again. it's too easy to make one, and I'm not even a "handy" person or anything. If you buy up lets say a 20g tank or whatever size you can fit, then it's simply a matter of siliconing in baffles for a bubble trap if needed. Separting a section with more baffles for a refugium section if you want, I recommend doing so, and then an area for the return pump. The rest is optional. That said, they're thousands of ways you can make a sump, so customizable that way, but the basic drain-skimmer section/refugium section/return pump layout seems to be more common place and works perfectly.


Overflow boxes are up for debate depending on who you speak to. I don't drill my tanks so i use the overflow boxes and have never had a problem. Their are two basic types, one uses a u-tube to syphon the water over the tanks edge and gravity feeds the sump, typcially this will not loose syphon during power outages and once power is restored, they continue where they left off. I've had several outages (oklahoma, go figure) and never had one flood. Now the continuous syphon overflows WILL loose syphon during outages, and require a separate pump such as an aqualifter or maxijet to keep syphon once power returns.

If you can drill that tank, that's the best method IMO but not completely neccessary. I don't plan on drilling my 220g though, but i know those who woudn't dream of using an external overflow box on a tank that size....or any size for that matter.

Look around the DIY forums and you should be able to get some great idea's to get ya started or let ya know at least if it's something you think you can handle or not. And if not, get ahold of some fellow local reefers, i bet someone would be willing to assisst. (I learned by watching a local reefer at a fish club meeting build a 10g fuge, it looked so easy i ran home, had one built within the hour.)

 

[prolx]

I have a 55g with a 30g sump/fuge that uses a overflow box. Im using a overflow box made by Life Reef. So far, knock on wood I havent had a overflow problem with water all over the floor during a power outage. And believe me we have our share of power outages where I live.

 

[cy88]

Thank you papagimp,

I haven't bought the tank yet, or anything in that matter. Therefore the choice of tank will also based on whether I need it to be non-tempered glass or not.

I am going to drop by my local LFS a bit later on to see whether they can assist me in terms of drilling it if I get the tank from them.

I will definitely have more questions down the road in terms of setting this new tank up, and I am looking forward to move up from my 20G now!

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11390701#post11390701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prolx
Im using a overflow box made by Life Reef. So far, knock on wood I havent had a overflow problem with water all over the floor during a power outage.

from the reviews and feedback I hear about those units, probably won't need to knock on wood. I'd like to try one out in the future and see for myself. My units are kinda "knockoffs" of that design and i'm happy with them.