No Sump

freecard · 02/10/2006, 01:24 PM

Can I have a successful 60g reef tank without a sump?

BurntOutReefer · 02/10/2006, 01:53 PM

yes

drock59 · 02/10/2006, 02:34 PM

why cant you run a sump?

RandyP · 02/10/2006, 02:52 PM

Sure

freecard · 02/10/2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drock59
why cant you run a sump?

I guess I shouldn't say that I can't, but when it comes to any sort of plumbing I'm completely useless.

dougchambers · 02/10/2006, 06:39 PM

I've run a tank both ways and would never run without a sump again if at all possible. IMHO, the benefits of additional volume, places to put heaters, pumps, skimmers, etc. make it worth learning some plumbing...

Drewpy · 02/10/2006, 09:38 PM

hang on refuigum may help... some benefits above without the worry of a sump...

freecard · 02/10/2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Drewpy
hang on refuigum may help... some benefits above without the worry of a sump...

are there any posts regarding how to construct the HOB refugium . . . I have not heard of this

Zigzag Man · 02/10/2006, 11:24 PM

If it were me, I'd go with the sump instead of the refugium.

Really I can't think of any benefit the refugium offers (well, aside from maybe macroalgae/pod growth). IMO, a refugium and sump are two different beasts, and trying to gain the benefits of a sump by adding a refugium are kinda questionable.

You 'may' be able to fit a heater in a refugium, but that would be about it... you can't fit a skimmer in it, and it adds a negligible amount of volume (maybe a gallon).

I agree that running a sump is the way to go... it doesn't add much to the overall cost of your tank, yet it's benefits are hard to estimate... it depends on whether or not you like seeing all of your tank equipment inside your tank, or if you'd rather get them out of sight so you can enjoy your reef.

Also, PVC plumbing is a piece of cake... and it's also cheap, so if you mess it up, just go buy more... you'll only be out a few bucks, but you'll have gained experience... ya know, that thing you always get just after you really needed it.

Drewpy · 02/11/2006, 08:05 AM

well.... 10 grand in hard wood floors will make you think twice about sump... Never have talked to anyone that hasn't had or heard a horror story...
Refugiums are also completely silent and add about 4 to 5 gallons to the water volume if you go with normal name brand product. Heaters and most hang on products fit in them.

However big old sump with lots of volume is the best. Running one into basement where you can make a mess and workon things-- thats what you really want.

freecard · 02/11/2006, 12:59 PM

okay--well I also dont want a mess. So tell me more about the HOB ref.

pili · 02/11/2006, 05:27 PM

I am running my 40g compelety HOB right now but i still wish i had my sump. Much easier access to everything and the ability to hide everything. If you do go with a sump, make sure to have your tank drilled.

Zigzag Man · 02/14/2006, 01:13 AM

Quote:

well.... 10 grand in hard wood floors will make you think twice about sump... Never have talked to anyone that hasn't had or heard a horror story...

Sorry I'm so late getting back to this...

Well, you've met your first non-horror-story person with a sump.

I've had sumps on all my tanks and have yet to have any problems... primarily because I designed my systems with plenty of extra overflow capacity, and I've used both HOB and drilled overflows (so there's no difference in that regard).

99% of the stories I've seen have been either from siphons breaking on poorly-designed overflow boxes (i.e. 'CPR' overflows), or people that didn't allow for enough draindown when their tank shuts off (or they didn't keep their siphon-break holes cleaned out on their return lines). Other flood instances can be traced to faulty floats or sticking floatswitches on top-off systems, but then again that would be shoddy maintenance that causes a flood, not necessarily the sump itself.

If you keep those three things in mind, sumps are no more dangerous flood-wise than your tank.

You have a 5-gallon HOB refugium? Personally, I'd be more worried about having 40lbs. of water hanging on the back glass of my tank (supported by plastic) than I would be with a sump... but of course there's different ways to do everything in this hobby.

Hardwood floors would make me a bit leery too... so I see your point on that one...

dougchambers · 02/14/2006, 09:07 AM

The best thing we did for the sump under our old 75g system was to build an acrylic tray that was 5" tall and covered 80% of the stand. The sump and calcium reactor sat in the tray for that extra safety factor. Easy to build and worked great. I highly recommend it!

Here you can see part of the tray, sump, and reactor.

-Doug

02/10/2006, 01:24 PM	#1
freecard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 137	No Sump Can I have a successful 60g reef tank without a sump?

02/10/2006, 02:34 PM	#3
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	why cant you run a sump? __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

02/10/2006, 09:38 PM	#7
Drewpy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid coast, Hope, Maine Posts: 861	hang on refuigum may help... some benefits above without the worry of a sump... __________________ drew Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront, t5 ho 4 x 39 tek fixture, turboflotor 1000 multi, hob refugium

02/10/2006, 11:24 PM	#9
Zigzag Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 491	If it were me, I'd go with the sump instead of the refugium. Really I can't think of any benefit the refugium offers (well, aside from maybe macroalgae/pod growth). IMO, a refugium and sump are two different beasts, and trying to gain the benefits of a sump by adding a refugium are kinda questionable. You 'may' be able to fit a heater in a refugium, but that would be about it... you can't fit a skimmer in it, and it adds a negligible amount of volume (maybe a gallon). I agree that running a sump is the way to go... it doesn't add much to the overall cost of your tank, yet it's benefits are hard to estimate... it depends on whether or not you like seeing all of your tank equipment inside your tank, or if you'd rather get them out of sight so you can enjoy your reef. Also, PVC plumbing is a piece of cake... and it's also cheap, so if you mess it up, just go buy more... you'll only be out a few bucks, but you'll have gained experience... ya know, that thing you always get just after you really needed it. __________________ David Current Tank Info: 125g 3/4" Acrylic Cube (36"x36"x24") - 312w T5HO - 250w 10K XDE HQI PFO - Mag 18 return, 6 MJ-1200 • Downsizing to a 24g Nano! Ain't life strange?

02/11/2006, 08:05 AM	#10
Drewpy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid coast, Hope, Maine Posts: 861	well.... 10 grand in hard wood floors will make you think twice about sump... Never have talked to anyone that hasn't had or heard a horror story... Refugiums are also completely silent and add about 4 to 5 gallons to the water volume if you go with normal name brand product. Heaters and most hang on products fit in them. However big old sump with lots of volume is the best. Running one into basement where you can make a mess and workon things-- thats what you really want. __________________ drew Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront, t5 ho 4 x 39 tek fixture, turboflotor 1000 multi, hob refugium

02/10/2006, 01:53 PM	#2
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	yes

02/10/2006, 02:52 PM	#4
RandyP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 99	Sure

02/10/2006, 06:39 PM	#6
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	I've run a tank both ways and would never run without a sump again if at all possible. IMHO, the benefits of additional volume, places to put heaters, pumps, skimmers, etc. make it worth learning some plumbing...

02/11/2006, 12:59 PM	#11
freecard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 137	okay--well I also dont want a mess. So tell me more about the HOB ref.

02/11/2006, 05:27 PM	#12
pili Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 112	I am running my 40g compelety HOB right now but i still wish i had my sump. Much easier access to everything and the ability to hide everything. If you do go with a sump, make sure to have your tank drilled. __________________ "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds on in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau Current Tank Info: Taking a little Break :P

02/14/2006, 09:07 AM	#14
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	The best thing we did for the sump under our old 75g system was to build an acrylic tray that was 5" tall and covered 80% of the stand. The sump and calcium reactor sat in the tray for that extra safety factor. Easy to build and worked great. I highly recommend it! Here you can see part of the tray, sump, and reactor. -Doug