75g tank, ok to go sumpless??

Fish_Freek · 05/30/2009, 08:21 PM

I have a 38g reef (sumpless) that has been set up for about 8 years and has been progressing very well and i recently acquired a new 75g tank. I will be transferring the contents from my 38g mixed reef into the 75g. Is it possible to go sumpless with this project and still get good results??
Like a lot of hobbyists i am looking to upgrade as cheaply as possible due to current lack of cash. I will be reusing my 4x39w tek retro and staggering the lights to make it work for the next year or so. I also have a modded prizm skimmer that pulls alot of gunk from the current tank, but i know it will need to be replaced in the future. I plan to get a larger hang on back fuge to grow cheato.
Does this sound like the new set up may work or am i getting in over my head?

Any thoughts?

eb8919 · 05/30/2009, 08:29 PM

A sump would certainly make your life a lot easier...but if you are getting a large hang on back fuge and maintaning a healthy refugium on top of consistant water changes and maintenace etc. You should be fine.

How heavy of a bioload do you plan on having. I have a friend who kept a 75 sumpless and skimmerless for quite some time with minimal problems...mind you he had a low bioload and kept up on his duties very strictly.

It never hurts to upgrade :P.

Mariner · 05/30/2009, 08:50 PM

I've had my sumpless 75g going and doing very well for about 6 years. I've got an AquaC Remora skimmer that does a decent job and I do weekly 5% to 10% water changes. The tank is a mixed reef, mostly softies but several LPS and SPS too.
HTH,
Mariner

Fish_Freek · 05/30/2009, 08:53 PM

The current bioload i have is:
1-coral beauty
pair of perc clowns
1-royal gramma
1-sixline wrass
(will probably pick up a very small yellow tang in the future)
soft corals, lps and a few sps

I think my current bioload is pretty small for a 75g, in my 38g with this bioload, nitrates have been a constant zero and all other params are good.

I will probably to go with a sump in the future, but just wanted to know if my current equipment will suffice for the time being until i can scrounge up more money to upgrade properly.

Fish_Freek · 05/30/2009, 08:55 PM

Mariner...do you have any pics of your tank? What do you have as far as circulation??

Mariner · 05/31/2009, 05:19 AM

Here are a couple of pics.
Besides the skimmer return, circulation is just 3 powerheads (a korallia 2, a maxijet and an old powersweep that doesn't sweep), and a power filter that I run carbon and GFO in.

Mariner

Mariner · 05/31/2009, 05:43 AM

Here are some individual coral pics from the 75g just for the fun of it.

Electrobes · 05/31/2009, 07:04 AM

Very Pretty tank Mariner!

I love looking at tanks like yours, simply beautiful.

I have a 40Br Sumpless and love it's simplicity, but there is no question making it look uncluttered isn't easy with equipment hanging around.

Fish_Freek · 05/31/2009, 08:09 AM

Very nice looking tank! I love the green Sinularia. I have one in my tank too, it's my favorite softie.

BLKTANG · 05/31/2009, 08:35 AM

My friend has a 75g with a hob skimmer,& 2 biowheel filters,& his coral grows like crazy.

Jack01 · 05/31/2009, 10:22 AM

You'll be fine.

austin93 · 05/31/2009, 11:04 AM

I ran a 75 for a long time w/o a sump before I finally decided to try it out and see what I was missing. I can't believe I didn't have one to begin with! I have all the noise contained, the ato doesn't just sit around beside the tank. The skimmer is MUCH bigger and doesn't take up any tank real estate. I have a much cleaner tank without the powerfilter making bubbles and causing salt creep on everything. My heater is no longer an eyesoar. My recommendation, which is from someone who tried to do it the same way as you did for a long time, is to just drill it and put a gl*******s.com overflow on it and be finished. "Do it right the first time or do it twice." JMO

Mykel Obvious · 05/31/2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by austin93
I ran a 75 for a long time w/o a sump before I finally decided to try it out and see what I was missing. I can't believe I didn't have one to begin with! I have all the noise contained, the ato doesn't just sit around beside the tank. The skimmer is MUCH bigger and doesn't take up any tank real estate. I have a much cleaner tank without the powerfilter making bubbles and causing salt creep on everything. My heater is no longer an eyesoar. My recommendation, which is from someone who tried to do it the same way as you did for a long time, is to just drill it and put a gl*******s.com overflow on it and be finished. "Do it right the first time or do it twice." JMO

+1

As others have stated, it can be done (and done very well in many cases), but I really wish I'd gone with a sump on my 65... too much junk hanging over the back side (makes it harder to clean that pane of glass, for sure)

My future 120 upgrade will DEFINITELY have a sump (said upgrade only to happen if my personal economy ever improves), and I doubt I'll ever run anything other than a nano tank without a sump in the future... Just my 2/100s

catfisher · 05/31/2009, 01:04 PM

Sumps make things so much easier. I can't imagine keeping a reef tank without one.

05/30/2009, 08:21 PM	#1
Fish_Freek Cheese Head Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kimberly, WI Posts: 386	75g tank, ok to go sumpless?? I have a 38g reef (sumpless) that has been set up for about 8 years and has been progressing very well and i recently acquired a new 75g tank. I will be transferring the contents from my 38g mixed reef into the 75g. Is it possible to go sumpless with this project and still get good results?? Like a lot of hobbyists i am looking to upgrade as cheaply as possible due to current lack of cash. I will be reusing my 4x39w tek retro and staggering the lights to make it work for the next year or so. I also have a modded prizm skimmer that pulls alot of gunk from the current tank, but i know it will need to be replaced in the future. I plan to get a larger hang on back fuge to grow cheato. Does this sound like the new set up may work or am i getting in over my head? Any thoughts? __________________ ~~ Bob ~~ Current Tank Info: 75g reef tank, octoHB2000 HOB skimmer, 2x EG D120 Led black boxes

05/30/2009, 08:29 PM	#2
eb8919 Reefaholic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 542	A sump would certainly make your life a lot easier...but if you are getting a large hang on back fuge and maintaning a healthy refugium on top of consistant water changes and maintenace etc. You should be fine. How heavy of a bioload do you plan on having. I have a friend who kept a 75 sumpless and skimmerless for quite some time with minimal problems...mind you he had a low bioload and kept up on his duties very strictly. It never hurts to upgrade :P. __________________ A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. -A. Einstein

05/30/2009, 08:50 PM	#3
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	I've had my sumpless 75g going and doing very well for about 6 years. I've got an AquaC Remora skimmer that does a decent job and I do weekly 5% to 10% water changes. The tank is a mixed reef, mostly softies but several LPS and SPS too. HTH, Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

05/30/2009, 08:53 PM	#4
Fish_Freek Cheese Head Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kimberly, WI Posts: 386	The current bioload i have is: 1-coral beauty pair of perc clowns 1-royal gramma 1-sixline wrass (will probably pick up a very small yellow tang in the future) soft corals, lps and a few sps I think my current bioload is pretty small for a 75g, in my 38g with this bioload, nitrates have been a constant zero and all other params are good. I will probably to go with a sump in the future, but just wanted to know if my current equipment will suffice for the time being until i can scrounge up more money to upgrade properly. __________________ ~~ Bob ~~ Current Tank Info: 75g reef tank, octoHB2000 HOB skimmer, 2x EG D120 Led black boxes

05/30/2009, 08:55 PM	#5
Fish_Freek Cheese Head Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kimberly, WI Posts: 386	Mariner...do you have any pics of your tank? What do you have as far as circulation?? __________________ ~~ Bob ~~ Current Tank Info: 75g reef tank, octoHB2000 HOB skimmer, 2x EG D120 Led black boxes

05/31/2009, 05:19 AM	#6
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Here are a couple of pics. Besides the skimmer return, circulation is just 3 powerheads (a korallia 2, a maxijet and an old powersweep that doesn't sweep), and a power filter that I run carbon and GFO in. Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

05/31/2009, 05:43 AM	#7
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Here are some individual coral pics from the 75g just for the fun of it. __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

05/31/2009, 07:04 AM	#8
Electrobes Montipora type guy Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 2,945	Very Pretty tank Mariner! I love looking at tanks like yours, simply beautiful. I have a 40Br Sumpless and love it's simplicity, but there is no question making it look uncluttered isn't easy with equipment hanging around. __________________ Christian Current Tank Info: 100G Half Cylinder

05/31/2009, 08:09 AM	#9
Fish_Freek Cheese Head Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kimberly, WI Posts: 386	Very nice looking tank! I love the green Sinularia. I have one in my tank too, it's my favorite softie. __________________ ~~ Bob ~~ Current Tank Info: 75g reef tank, octoHB2000 HOB skimmer, 2x EG D120 Led black boxes

05/31/2009, 08:35 AM	#10
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	My friend has a 75g with a hob skimmer,& 2 biowheel filters,& his coral grows like crazy. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

05/31/2009, 10:22 AM	#11
Jack01 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: west coast, canada Posts: 52	You'll be fine.

05/31/2009, 11:04 AM	#12
austin93 Don't Panic! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Trenton, MO Posts: 757	I ran a 75 for a long time w/o a sump before I finally decided to try it out and see what I was missing. I can't believe I didn't have one to begin with! I have all the noise contained, the ato doesn't just sit around beside the tank. The skimmer is MUCH bigger and doesn't take up any tank real estate. I have a much cleaner tank without the powerfilter making bubbles and causing salt creep on everything. My heater is no longer an eyesoar. My recommendation, which is from someone who tried to do it the same way as you did for a long time, is to just drill it and put a gl*******s.com overflow on it and be finished. "Do it right the first time or do it twice." JMO __________________ DON'T PANIC! Current Tank Info: 30 Rimless

05/31/2009, 01:04 PM	#14
catfisher Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 527	Sumps make things so much easier. I can't imagine keeping a reef tank without one. __________________ Current Tank- 90 Gallon mixed reef, 20 Gallon Sump. Evergrow WiFi Black boxes, JBJ ATO, TLF Reactor w/GFO, Reef Octopus NWB110 Skimmer. Coral- Red Lobo, Orange Blast Acan, Frogspawn, Hammer, War, Ac