will this work

[Reeflover0723]

i am thinking of buying a 100 gallon tank that i will turn in to a sps dominated tank. I found a deal on ebay for a 100 gallon bow front with stand with a sump will this sump work if i put a skimmer outside of it in the stand.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I don't see why not. I'd also get rid of those bio balls (Nitrate trap)

 

[AZBigJohn]

The BioBalls usually cause more problems than they are worth.

You can use that sump, but you would need a connecting refugium (if you want one). I would rather find an aquarium that fits in the same space and create your own sump...

 

[Reeflover0723]

ok thank you, you guys respond fast.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Remember for a sump you can always wait until the next Petco dollar a gallon sale and get a tank cheap to convert into a sump.

 

[tennesseebob]

This

This

Remember for a sump you can always wait until the next Petco dollar a gallon sale and get a tank cheap to convert into a sump.

That is how i build all my sumps, it is so handy, the tanks they sell during the sales aren't pretty, but they make GREAT sumps lol

 

[roscoe71]

What's the point of getting rid of the bio balls ? How does the filtration work without them ?

 

[thegrun]

The problem with Bio-Balls is that they are very good at breaking down ammonia to nitrates but have no capability to break down nitrates like live rock does with anaerobic bacteria. Consequently bio-balls tend to raise the nitrate levels in tanks.

 

[NS Mike D]

self edit already answered

 

[roscoe71]

I have this exact setup, and my nitrates are very high. But I don't have a skimmer yet. Not sure if I'd have any filtration without them at this point. Correct ?

 

[hotelbravo]

I have this exact setup, and my nitrates are very high. But I don't have a skimmer yet. Not sure if I'd have any filtration without them at this point. Correct ?

if you have rock in your tank than the rock will act as your filtration. i do not run a skimmer and do not have bio balls.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

What's the point of getting rid of the bio balls ? How does the filtration work without them ?

Bio balls are nitrate traps. Filtration is best with live rock and live sand.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

if you have rock in your tank than the rock will act as your filtration. i do not run a skimmer and do not have bio balls.

NO! Do run a skimmer and do it 24/7 :thumbsup:

 

[hotelbravo]

NO! Do run a skimmer and do it 24/7 :thumbsup:

oh no i hope i wasnt being misunderstood i should have elaborated
skimmers are very much beneficial i just havent had money to upgrade the skimmer i had when i was running a 30 gallon. i am saving up for a Reef Octopus brand in sump skimmer. i was making a point the guy said he wasnt skimming and was saying he needed the bioballs to act as a filter because of the fact that he wasnt skimming. i was intending to make the point that it doesnt matter that he isnt skimming he can remove the bio balls cause the live rock will do all that the bio balls are doing and more

 

[scooter31707]

You can take out the bio-balls and replace them with live rock rubble or I have seen some reefers use regular landscaping Red Lava Rocks.

 

[hotelbravo]

You can take out the bio-balls and replace them with live rock rubble or I have seen some reefers use regular landscaping Red Lava Rocks.

no lava rocks in a saltwater aquarium..