running a reef sumpless

[lisa foster]

I have had my 125 gallon tank running sumpless for a year I am thinking of starting to use one. If I am doing weekly water changes do I need a sump. Also does anyone out there run without a sump. I also only had very few small fish I am now adding bigger fish o I was wondering if the higher bio load would make it more difficult to stay sumpless

 

[JTM4UG]

I ran my tank sumpless for a long time, right when I switched over I realized why they are used, greater volume of water is always better, easier to do everything from the sump and no HOB visible.

 

[Takara]

Do you have a HOB skimmer? I think you can do it, but a sump would make it a lot easier to maintain and work on.

How much LR and what do you have for flow now?

 

[pvh]

I've been running mine sumpless for 3 years now.

 

[lisa foster]

do you just use an hob skimmer? My tank is 125 gallons and I don't know whta kind of hob to get

 

[Enterprise]

I have a Reef Octopus BH1000 on my FOWLR/extra tank. It seems to get a lot of gunk out. There is a uprated version with a bigger pump but I'm not sure it is enough for a 125.

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopu...back-protein-skimmer-br-by-coralvue-2348.html

 

[delta]

You do not need a sump it just gives you a place to keep all the clutter of heater skimmers etc. I ran sump less for a few years on my 29gal.

A good top off system is helpful. For a 125g you will need to either remote locate a skimmer above the tank of get a custom HOB. Or you could also go with a Tunze skimmer
they sit inside the tank, sort of HOB on back.

 

[lisa foster]

my problem is when I purchased this tank from someone I did not take into an accot having a reef ready stand I have maybe 20 inches clearance in my stand. The protein skimmers that would fit this are very expensive

 

[delta]

Make a cabinet next to the stand that will fit a cheaper skimmer. Have you looked at the octopus line of skimmers?

 

[lisa foster]

I don't have any room I have a large couch next to it there are only three walls in the room. I looked at the octopus line I wonder if their hob would be enough

 

[lisa foster]

I just looked and thanks for the info they have an octopus in sump rated for 250 galons that is short enough to be able to go in my sump

 

[Lanesville Seahorse]

Hi Lisa,

If you are thinking of setting up a sump and you just don't seam to have the room under your 20" stand - would it be posible to set up a sump and support room / closet on a common wall or below the floor which your tank is located on?

On a similar note - more mechanical stuff (like protein skimmers) you add the more noise and water spash you add too.

I have my stuff in the basement. Some times I wish I stuck to my 75 gal setup

 

[lisa foster]

My house is over two hundred years old granite unheated basement under the tank is a crawl space. I might be able to put a small tank next to the tank to put a skimmer in but it would maybe fit a 10 gallon. I have been using for a year an octopus hob rated for 75 gallons on my 125 I know this is not enough

 

[SharkLover]

running 58 gallons skimmerless, sumpless with weekly water changes for 3-4 months now. been working fine for me. even my cyano and dino are gone. probably because i went from 2 week water change to every weekend now. Just some minor green on the lower parts of the sand bed which is ok i guess. can't win em all. I dont necessarily know if that will fly with 125 gallons lol.

 

[lisa foster]

I have been doing it for a year. I have never had bubble or hair algae. I just know now that I am increasing I really need a better skimmer

 

[snowmaker]

My best looking tank - sps dominant has NO sump, although a sump under it would be great. Just wanted to point out that a sump isn't mandatory.

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86210

 

[lisa foster]

Tank looks great I think I will put two octopus hob skimmers on my tank