Sumpless tanks

[Das awesome]

Hey guys, I'm about to start up a 40g reef but where the tank is going, on top of a dresser, I cannot put a sump. What is the best way to do my filtration? I was thinking an emperor 400 cuz I already have a couple sittin around and a bunch of powerheads. I will be doing weekly wc's and not a lot of fish so I don't believe a skimmer is necessary. I will be moving all inhabitants from my 14g biocube into this tank and it is a standard 40b. Thanks guys

[Das awesome]

Sorry. Forgot to add that this will be a mixed reef so there will also be sps and possibly clams.

[reepher315]

HOB skimmers are always an option. Imo work better than filters

[FranktheTankTx]

Truth is I once ran a 46 bow with an emperor 400 & a HOB skimmer back in the day. I mainly used the emperor for a bag of carbon & rubble rock on the other side.

There are a couple good HOB skimmers - I had a very successful softie tank.

[Das awesome]

Do they work pretty well as mechanical filtration? I know they pick up the dissolved nutrients but will they pick up the solid particles that float around?

[FranktheTankTx]

Remember - some people don't take advantage of mechanical filtration - which is basically what a HOB filter is. You use the emperor for a filter floss, rubble rock & carbon.

The skimmers are good & I would not run a salt water reef tank without one.

[pmrossetti]

the rock is your bio filter if 40 lbs or so.
you just need aeration, flow and water changes.

[Das awesome]

Thanks guys. What would be a good hob skimmer? I've read a lot of them aren't that great but the bak paks are descent. Is there a better 1 out there? Also is rubble rock really necessary? If I've got 40lbs+ of live rock in the display, I don't really see what difference a little bit of rubble in the filter is going to make or is there a different reason for this? I was thinking possibly putting chaeto on 1 side of the emperor 400 and filter pads on the other. I'm still unsure of whether carbon is really necessary or not either. I've heard both sides of that debate

[pmrossetti]

Reef Octopus makes good HOB skimmers.
Water changes can do fine.

chaeto and filter pads would be ok. A place for pods to grow.
Or a bag of GFO maybe.

[moondoggy4]

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx_...PSHONW-vi.html This skimmer but in the JNS version because it will be easier to get the AIO crowd want this skimmer so it will be out of stock. The JNS has a different layout for the pipes so it will not work on the AIO tanks.

[Das awesome]

Have any of you heard anything or had experience with an eshopps hob protein skimmer? I just got back from my lfs and that's what they recommended but they didn't have any in stock

[Craig pc]

Could try one of the tom rapids filters have some good things with being used on a 40b but with anything bigger not enough flow through filter

[Robb in Austin]

I ran my 58 for two years without a sump.

I ran a Tunze 9010 skimmer inside and a BRS dual gfo/carbon reactor. I had a Maxijet 1200 inside the tank feeding the reactor (the pump was somewhat hidden behind the rock).

[FranktheTankTx]

Just a thought - I know you would lose a little surface area, but you could build a 'false' overflow box that specifically feeds your hob skimmer & bag of carbon. House your heater inside too. Run the skimmer output outside the overflow. You could even hang an ATO float valve inside. Make it a coast to coast box - you'll get surface skimming, too.

We are accustomed to overflows - but skimmers, heaters, etc are not appealing to the eye. Catch my drift?

[ThreeMoneyJ]

Aquaclear 110 with an Intank media basket for the tunze 9002. You get mechanical filtration, a spot for a heater, room for carbon, and a skimmer all in the hob aquaclear. I would also suggest an AutoAqua smart ATO for top off. That will keep everything out of your tank.

I'm using this on a 29 gallon and am very happy.