to sump or not to sump

[flanders]

So ..

I am phasing out my canister filter … and have been debating putting a 24gal sump in… my tank wasent drilled and I placed it 3 inches from the wall..

The only decent external overflow I could find is 4 and ½ inches deep and hanging it off the side isn’t much of an option as my canopy has to be pretty stable (3 cats)

I just got this tank in nice shape and don’t want to drain it and move it if at all possible..

Can anyone think of an alternative.. im almost willing to live without a sump rather then drain my tank down to 10% and try to move it

cheers

 

[Chemical_Whore]

Hang it off the side if you dont have a canopy??

 

[Anonymous]

i had a tank that sat in an area where i couldn't have a sump... i was in the building stages of putting a sump above the main display just for putting heaters and equipment, although much would be concealed behind the tank, i planned to hide much of it with fake foliage... but then disaster struck

note the cracked tank wall to the left :x

so the tank never became anything, but i think it would have been pretty cool had i finished it.

and as i said last time i was on this forum.. airdriven skimmers work well.. they could sit inside the tank.
also you could build a skimmer if you like or even better, you could build a remote sump if you have means of piping it (under floor or something).

 

[Bojangles]

I have to agree about putting in a sump. No matter how big or how small I find extreme joy looking into my tank and not seeing heaters and equipment. If only to house my heaters and skimmer I think its worth it if you can find a way to do it.

Had you had a 5" clear from the back I would suggest getting a CPR series of overflow. I recent bought the CPR150 rated at 1600gph for my tank and I absolutely love the thing to pieces!! I bought it for $83 shipped with the aqualifter pump so it wasn't super expensive and I'd have to say the best purchase I've made for my tank this month.

I didn't buy from here but its a quick reference if you need one:
https://petsolutions.com/search.asp?t=ss&ss=cpr

 

[polcat]

If you are handy you could build it yourself. I built two for my 90g and they are 3" deep. All you need is a bulk head, a u-tube, and two plastic boxes...one inside and one outside. There are many DIY plans on the net, some use plastic breeder boxes. I built mine for about $30 each and they work great.

 

[WRASSER]

your tank is not predrilled you are going to have to hang something some were. either on the back or the side.

 

[Anonymous]

I would do it. Adding more water volume is always a plus in my book. Not to mention, heaters and skimmers work great in them, not to mention, it's one less thing you have to worry about if the skimmer decides to leak too!

~wings~

 

[Seaslug]

I hope this helps. I bought an Aquacrylics filter and overflow box. The overflow is 3.25" and I'll bet if you were to contact them they could get it down the amount you need. Quality is excellent and they are great to deal with let alone there prices are nice too.

http://www.aquacrylics.com/new_acrylic_ ... nd_ski.htm


Good Luck
Seaslug

 

[mash2k]

I have an Aquacrylics overflow on my 55 gallon and couldn't be more pleased...well engineered and priced fair.

Do a sump! Here are but just a few reasons:

-avoids unsightly heaters, pumps, etc in display tank
-removes excess organics from water surface keeping it crystal clear
-organics are removed from surface to a sump where they can be removed by a skimmer
-great place to grow macro algae for phosphate and nitrate removal
-fosters better skimmer production
-great breeding ground for pods, etc
-increases water volume
-allows for easy water changes without distubing the display tank
-greater surface area for oxygen exchange
-hell I almost enjoy my refugium as much as the display

there are probably a dozen or so more reasons, I just can't recall them all

 

[flanders]

so i moved my tank 2 inches.. and put in an external overflow box..

this weekend i put my sump and my new aqua c (replacing a prism so you can imagin how happy that made me) and i LOVE my sump.. my tank is now clear of all but the return and 2 powerheads .. i will be putting in the refrugium this week and i am looking forward to that...

thanks all .. this sump really makes me happy.. spent hours this weekend just looking at its golrious simpllicity.... (and making sure it diddnt f up and flood my apt)

cheers

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Glad to hear it went well. Now all you have to do is incorporate a closed loop and you can rid yourself of those pesky powerheads. I'm in the process of doing that with my 30 cube that has been running sumpless for about 15 months now...can't wait to get all that crap out of the display tank and into the sump!

 

[flanders]

what do you mean by closed loop?


cheers

 

[stilmas]

I know this is an old thread but if any new people come across this and ask the same question I have an answer. If the tank is relatively small an Aqua-C remora or remora pro skimmer w/overflow box and sumpless is the easiest you can get. I've been running my 46bow sumpless for over 4 years and it is the simplest thing I ever did. I add nothing but keep ALK and CA in check and do 10-15% water changes every week. It is perfectly balanced with zero's across the board, plenty of pods, etc. Cooling isn't even an issue with the recent addition of 2-250w HQI pendants mounted in a DIY fixture at 2-3" above the water surface. I don't know why people say that a sump/refugium is a must. IMO it is just more work than needed on a small setup. When I go to a 100+ gallon tank I would put in a small sump just to house the big skimmer and maybe the heaters if they fit. I have a black plastic type heater in my display that sticks vertically next to my black overflow box and looks fine and not intrusive at all. I take care of my evaporation water by using a Float switch in the pump compartment of the overflow box and a 2-gallon container of RO/DI water in the stand that pumps fresh water into the same pump compartment of the overflow box. Works like a charm! So for all of you who think that the more complicated your filtration and plumbing is the better your results will be, that truely isn't the case. It's actually more draining on your wallet, your free time and involves more maintenance due to more plumbing and pumps to clean/replace. Keeping it simple stupid is the best way to do anything. (K.I.S.S.). Trust me, I'm not trying to start any flame wars, just letting people know that the simplest methods do work very very well. Thanks for listening!

Specs:
46 Oceanic Bow (sumpless)
100lbs. Fiji LR
4" Live Sand DSB
AquaC-Remora w/overflow box and upgraded pump
2-RIO 800 pumps for circulation
2-250w HQI w/Hamilton 14k

Mix of LPS, SPS, softies, clams