who runs a tank sumpless

[markandkristen]

i was given a 55 gallon with no sump and just liverock with 3 powerheads maxi jet 900 :1200: and a hagen 201 and a seaclone skimmer
its going to be for my son
thinking of setting up a fowlr tank

rena for a canister filter (carbon only)

was thinking i might add a hob one day not totally sure but wanted to avoid if possible

 

[cubsFAN]

i do my only filtration is live rock and my skimmer.

 

[markandkristen]

what do you do or

do you have any problem with the scum on the top of the tank.

 

[cubsFAN]

i do have a surface film problem. i put the surface skimmer from my aqua c on the maxi, but it dosent work great. i have used one of the drsF&S hob filters with surface skimmer but that dosent work great either. When i do water changes i use a cup to skim the surface scum. Its a little extra work, but my powerheads break the surface well and i think i get plenty of oxygen. the scum is like a little triangle at the back of my tank.

 

[ryansweet]

I have a 44gal corner set up with a canister filter. So far no problems. But I do keep up with water changes and have a HOB skimmer that is rated for 100gal so it is a little overkill, but my fishes are worth it.

 

[markandkristen]

surface scum on saltwater tanks

any other thoughts

 

[E.intheC]

I have only had 'surface scum' problems in tanks where there wasn't enough flow. If you have enough flow, and it's pointed at the top enough to provide surface agitation, (which is good for oxygen levels anyway) you shouldn't have this problem.

A sump is nice. I don't have one on mine, but wouldn't mind having extra water volume and a place for all my equipment. It kind of depends on what you want to do and what you can do.

You do have a lot more skimmer choices with a sump, and they're much better, typically. If I were to do my tank over, I'd have it drilled for a sump.

Good luck though

 

[cubsFAN]

i feel like i get good light penetration and mostly I see turbulence. The overall condition of my tank is excellent regardless of the surface scum. Some one may have a better solution for it, i skim the surface every other water change otherwise it starts to bug me.

 

[markandkristen]

i saw the hagen surface skimmer

http://www.aquariumguys.com/fluvalskimmer.html

was also looking at just taking out the filter part and just use this to break up the scum

http://www.petsolutions.com/default.aspx?ItemId=79278015&EID=SZ79278035&SID=SHZIL

 

[MartinEric]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14750937#post14750937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by markandkristen
i saw the hagen surface skimmer

http://www.aquariumguys.com/fluvalskimmer.html

was also looking at just taking out the filter part and just use this to break up the scum

http://www.petsolutions.com/default.aspx?ItemId=79278015&EID=SZ79278035&SID=SHZIL

I have one of the hagen surface skimmers, some of the things I dont like about it:
1. Its to big (used it for a while on a 15g)
2. Its skimmer part bounces up and down in current and thus does not skim as well.
3. Its noisy when it does number 2
4. Non functioning surface skimmer when evap. gets the 1-2" below the surface skimmers top.

I run a 15 gallon sumpless with a Remora HOB skimmer, and do as the aforementioned skimming of the surface when I do water changes if there is some surface skum, which flow does keep at bay somewhat.

 

[drummereef]

I haven't had much luck with surface skimmers. You can beat the surface scum by getting plenty of flow going. I have 1,300+ GPH on my 40g, two Tunze Nanostreams. If you keep the gunk in the water column your skimmer will have a chance to pull it out.


Flow on my sump-less 40g.

 

[markandkristen]

thanks guys i was thinking the mods were prob going to be nescessary as well

 

[Juruense]

I do not have a sump nor do I have surface scum.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Can anyone find that awesome sumpless 40G that was posted here a few months back. People accused him of photoshoping his corals it looked that great....i cant remember who it was though.

To the point: It was a stellar tank, and it did not have a sump.

 

[Fazulka]

I don't have room for a sump but wanted the benifit of a refugium. I bought plexiglass and marine silicone and build chambers in the back of my tank.

I don't have pics of my new tanks chambers right now, but it has only two chambers in the back, that a built INSIDE the tank. The water overflows to the refugium, then goes through a bubble trap to the small sump. There is no surface scum.

This is my old tank, with 3 chambers:

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Brett - :thumbsup: That's what the surface of my 30g looks like.

I've been running sumpless for 6 years or so. I added a sump once a few years back, but wasn't happy with it, so I got rid of it.

 

[kraze3]

As stated above some surface aggitation will stop the scum on the water surface. I dont see a need to run the canister all the time. Your skimmer and LR will be sufficient, keep the canister around to run some carbon when needed.

I ran a tank sumpless for 4+ years. I moved and added a sump. I find the sump easier, it houses equpiment and adds more water volume but they are not needed to keep a tank successfully

 

[rustyjames]

wish i had a sump, more volume, less stuff in ,on the back of tank. also used a cup to skim surface, till i added more flow. that took care of the scum.

 

[alextheromanian]

get a sump my 75 g can barely stay on track without it.

dont fall for the canister thing i have two and they are just not adequate for saltwater

 

[Paul B]

I never had a sump and I built a surface skimmer which feeds the HOB homemade skimmer.