Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > New to the Hobby
Blogs FAQ Calendar

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 04/02/2009, 09:38 PM   #1
markandkristen
Moved On
 
markandkristen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winterhaven, fl
Posts: 4,081
who runs a tank sumpless

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



Last edited by markandkristen; 04/02/2009 at 09:46 PM.
markandkristen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 09:50 PM   #2
cubsFAN
Moved On
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South Lake Tahoe
Posts: 1,550
i do my only filtration is live rock and my skimmer.


cubsFAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 09:51 PM   #3
markandkristen
Moved On
 
markandkristen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winterhaven, fl
Posts: 4,081
what do you do or

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


markandkristen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 09:59 PM   #4
cubsFAN
Moved On
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South Lake Tahoe
Posts: 1,550
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.


cubsFAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 10:13 PM   #5
ryansweet
Registered Member
 
ryansweet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indianapolis/Greenwood
Posts: 147
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.


__________________
I believe the purpose of life is to be happy - Dalai Lama

Current Tank Info: 34gal RSM, stayed with the stock plug and play it came with for now. Pearl Bubble, Green Bird's Nest, Various Zoa's, Various Ricordia, Starry Blenny, Sixline Wrasse, Watchman Goby/Pistol symbiont on order
ryansweet is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 10:27 PM   #6
markandkristen
Moved On
 
markandkristen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winterhaven, fl
Posts: 4,081
surface scum on saltwater tanks

any other thoughts


markandkristen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 10:38 PM   #7
E.intheC
Registered Member
 
E.intheC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 5,373
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


__________________
-Eric
E.intheC is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 10:38 PM   #8
cubsFAN
Moved On
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South Lake Tahoe
Posts: 1,550
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.


cubsFAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 10:49 PM   #9
markandkristen
Moved On
 
markandkristen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winterhaven, fl
Posts: 4,081
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....8035&SID=SHZIL


markandkristen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/02/2009, 11:55 PM   #10
MartinEric
Registered Member
 
MartinEric's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Middle O' Missouri
Posts: 189
Quote:
Originally posted 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....8035&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.


__________________
__________
Eric

"Just A Couple Of Pints And A Sing Song"

Current Tank Info: 15gal long, 2x65w Pc, Remora HOT skimmer, softies no fish. 30gal breeder, 6x39w t-5, Remora HOT skimmer, Mixed reef. 20gal long, 2x65w Pc, frag tank.
MartinEric is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 12:00 AM   #11
drummereef
Team RC Member
 
drummereef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 14,754
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.




__________________
-Brett

180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system
drummereef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 08:00 AM   #12
markandkristen
Moved On
 
markandkristen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winterhaven, fl
Posts: 4,081
thanks guys i was thinking the mods were prob going to be nescessary as well


markandkristen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 09:37 AM   #13
Juruense
Registered Member
 
Juruense's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 1,138
I do not have a sump nor do I have surface scum.


Juruense is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 09:41 AM   #14
1DeR9_3Hy
Registered Member
 
1DeR9_3Hy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,575
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.


__________________
I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about.

If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke.
My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott.
I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner.
Have a great day but most of all, have fun.

-PaulB

Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef
1DeR9_3Hy is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 09:43 AM   #15
Fazulka
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Greater Boston
Posts: 115
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:




Fazulka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 09:48 AM   #16
Sugar Magnolia
Registered Member
 
Sugar Magnolia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 17,691
Brett - 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.


__________________
Adrienne

The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.
Sugar Magnolia is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 10:00 AM   #17
kraze3
Registered Member
 
kraze3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: RI
Posts: 2,373
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


kraze3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 10:49 AM   #18
rustyjames
EMT-B
 
rustyjames's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 879
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.


__________________
I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

Current Tank Info: 20 long
rustyjames is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 01:22 PM   #19
alextheromanian
Registered Member
 
alextheromanian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Binghamton NY
Posts: 1,007
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


__________________
i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now.

Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR
alextheromanian is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 01:37 PM   #20
Paul B
Premium Member
 
Paul B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 15,549
I never had a sump and I built a surface skimmer which feeds the HOB homemade skimmer.


__________________
I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead.

Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971
Paul B is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 02:17 PM   #21
sdc19982002
Registered Member
 
sdc19982002's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Wills Point,Texas
Posts: 925
A cannister or an overated hang on style filter is just fine for a fish only tank. I would recommend a really good hang on skimmer though.


sdc19982002 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/03/2009, 02:21 PM   #22
CoRPS
Big Time Reefer
 
CoRPS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: P-RINE
Posts: 2,887
I've got a 55g without any kind of sump. However, I'm planning on upgrading to my 90g and I'm DEFINITELY getting a sump. No question about it.


CoRPS is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2025 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.