My no sump tank

my 60g cube has been up and running since 1992 - no sump, no skimmer, penguin emperor and fluval canister for filtration, glass tops until about 2 months ago, was heavily coppered several times in the early days, and still has the same piece of rock (pumice siliconed to the bottom to keep it from floating), didn't upgrade to VHO's (3 x 24" on a icecap)until a few years ago.

There are no "written in stone" rules - just whatever works best for you and the creatures you keep.
 
I am almost certain anything can be done without a sump. I have a shallow 33 gallon reef that I used nothing but a HOB and water changes on plus a lot of LR. I kept 6+ clams with quad t5 and a lot of powerhead flow. Ran flawless for 2 to 3 years, but I realized the tank hit a wall, I couldnt up the coral and livestock till I compensated for it with filtration. I have a lot of extra tanks some drilled some not.. SO I hooked a 20Long sump SRO 1000 skimmer and a 40 breeder as a 500GPH fuge and the 33 reef is now 600gph. Guess what?! I no longer buy HOB filter cartridges and the tank can be overstocked with whatever fits... The point is I was doing weekly 5 gallon water changes, I am still a water change fanatic but that tank is now virtually bullet proof. Clams corals livestock all happy and water is mint... Sumps are the best filtration for cost and functionality. I can add a phos reactor or a uv light or whatever tank needs and I am not wasting money as I would with HOB. I ran a rubbermaid sump on my FOWLR for 5 years till I got a deal on a 75G tank... Sumps are your friend not your foe.... OO and by the way all my sumped tanks are overflowed with cpr style overflows most my displays are used and not drilled...
 
Very nice looking tank! I too have ran a sump free tank with success in my early years in this hobby.

sump or no sump, that is a beautiful tank
 
Oh no no sumps are not foes in any way
I would like to set up a sump some day eventually so I can add marine plants and other equipment.
This was for me to let others know that you dont have to have a sump to have a nice tank. When I first strated everyone hounded me on the importance that i had to have a sump and I got really discouraged.
 
ok, I work at a lfs on saturdays for fun and a discount. Plus it helps to order whatever I want! But I appreciate your tank, Its definitely nice, but to many people come in to the fish store doing all the wrong things, and get discouraged, so I warn/inform people that if you are going to spend the money, and give it a go, might as well spend it right once than over and over. Like I have 1000$$ in skimmers in my garage.. You know how much more the skimmer I love was over the junkyard skimmers? 50$ bux UGH if I only knew what i know now I would have $1000 more in livestock! So the moral is yes it can be done, but why? :)
 
Tang Police response time: 1 hour. I think sumps are over rated for softie tanks. However, I really like being able to hide everything under the tank.
 
Please don't use the term "tang police" its frowned upon here. I didn't jump all over him, I didn't flame him, I simply wrote 3 tangs with a question mark, giving him the opportunity to explain his intentions. The reality is, that they really have no place in that tank, considering 2 of them can reach over a foot and need tanks north of 200g.

The tank as it is, is beautiful, and does show that you don't absolutely need a sump.
 
I've seen plenty of sump systems with equipment poorly hidden. You need some aquascaping skills no matter what system you go with.
 
(im a girl by the way haha)
Oh how i love the tang police :lolspin:
He was eating within a couple days of getting him and i had him for a few months then woke up and he was dead.
The Naso is a temp because I had some algae that only Nasos eat. He has taken care of it so far.
I like to get fish small and sell them as they grow. I like to change things up.
 
You don't need a sump for a softy dominated tank for sure. A pure SPS tank would be a lot more of a challenge without a sump. Of course an SPS tank is more demanding no matter what you have.
 
Frogmanx82 said:
You don't need a sump for a softy dominated tank for sure. A pure SPS tank would be a lot more of a challenge without a sump. Of course an SPS tank is more demanding no matter what you have.
Click to expand...

I could not agree with you more! SPS need much 'cleaner' water and by adding a sump you can add alot more equipment and livstock to help keep it that way.
 
I don't think a sump is absolutely required, but it sure does look a lot nicer than having equipment and cords hanging all over the display tank.

It's also extremely convenient for water changes!

Nice looking tank, I don't have enough courage to put 4 big fish in a small tank. I want to try a larger fish like a foxface or a kole tang...but I just don't want to risk it. Have you had any nitrate problems or fish fights?
 
ive had a 75 mixed reef with mostly lps and abig carpet nem with no sump for over a year. but ijust upgraded to a 125 , and plan to have the 75 setup as a sump/fuge soon.
 
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