In Progress: Sumpless 55g Tank

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 12:27 PM

Hi everyone. New to the forums but I found this is a place with good advice.
So my boyfriend and I are starting a reef tank, this is his first tank in general, I have had a handful of planted FW tanks and a ridiculous number of betta tanks but, this is my first reef tank.
We bought a 55 gallon column like tank.
Dimensions are: 30" W x 18" D x 24" H
I decided to go sumpless just because I've seen successful tanks without them, just require diligence etc.

So far we've gotten:
tank
stand
fluval 306 canister (I've seen lots of reef tanks using a canister successfully with no problems, just diligence seems to be the key)
HOB fluval heater

We will be getting:
live sand, base rock and a little live rock for seeding...thinking of order from marcorocks.com
hydrometer
master test kit
our water supply is coming from the LFS close by, they get their saltwater straight from the Seattle Aquarium.
Since salt doesn't evaporate, I can top off the tank with pure, fresh water correct?

We're thinking of going with:
LED lighting and replacing the stock bulb with an actinic one
2 Koralia Evolution pumps 750-850gph (the fluval pumps out about 308gph) is this going to be enough water cirulation?
Should we get a HOB skimmer in addition to the canister filter?
We plan on running a fowlr tank for now and then adding soft corals and anenomes later on once the tank is stable.

We haven't completely decided on stock yet.
Here is a picture of the tank so far, ugly I know.

Any suggestions, cautions etc?

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 01:19 PM

I HIGHLY reccommend adding a sump. You can build it yourself and its kinda fun. PLUS you add water volume to your system and a place to hide equipment. I did a 55G with no sump and I regretted it so much the whole time I had it. The HOB skimmers are not efficient enough imo to clean a fowlr tank (depending on stock). I would also reconsider the canister unless you want to clean it once a week. Thats another benefit to having a sump. Dont let it scare you if its plumbed right nothing bad can happen. Also with Lighting especially LED you get what you pay for. In my opinion for a 48" tank if your spending under $600 on LED's your not getting a good light. I personally would go T5. Although you arent planning a reef so it would probably be fine. Just color preference.

As far as test kits...

API is fine for amm, nitrite, and nitrate but the phosphate test is a joke.

When you get your hydrometer take it to your LFS that has a good refractometer and have them mark on your hydrometer what it actually is. The numbers are almost always wrong on them. I had mine done and 1.025 was actually like 1.027 but they are all different.

I would go with the hydor 850 or even 1150's 2 of them would do good. Drs foster and smith have them on sale right now...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=23592

Make sure you top off with RO water or you will end up with problems.

Pigpen17 · 02/15/2014, 01:39 PM

Ha! I just got the same tank!

Hitchhiking on thread.

I just bought a Marineland "Reef Capable" LED light w/ timer for it. Affordable, but questionable. It will be here Tuesday. I can let you know what it looks like set up, if you wish.

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 01:41 PM

I plan on adding a sump later down the line, t5 lighting was actually my first choice and will go with it because later down the line I'd like to start some corals
I can run a protein skimmer with out a sump for now correct?
Other than that any other opinions?

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 01:42 PM

You can get a HOB skimmer, yes. In the long run you will spend more buying that now then a in sump one later. I ran a aqua C remora Pro for awhile. It did ok. But my bubble magus curve 5 does twice what the remora did.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=24910

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigpen17

Ha! I just got the same tank!

Hitchhiking on thread.

I just bought a Marineland "Reef Capable" LED light w/ timer for it. Affordable, but questionable. It will be here Tuesday. I can let you know what it looks like set up, if you wish.

Definitely let me know how that works out! Looks like we're going to be twinning haha!

FernandoReef · 02/15/2014, 01:51 PM

I just want to reply in something you said at last.
Your tank is not ugly man, is good to go. I think all of us started with a smaller tank and then as the wallet lets you, you can always go big man. Steady but confident.

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 01:55 PM

I dont think it is ugly either. Shoot I downsized haha. I started with a 55 then went to a 46 BOW Now I have a 20G Long. I think I want to swap to a 40G breeder though. Still running a 20G sump though

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY lol

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h8z2luze

You can get a HOB skimmer, yes. In the long run you will spend more buying that now then a in sump one later. I ran a aqua C remora Pro for awhile. It did ok. But my bubble magus curve 5 does twice what the remora did.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=24910

Is there a skimmer that can function outside of a sump? I know a canister filter isn't the BEST but I think that with a good skimmer functioning outside of a sump will still work pretty well.

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h8z2luze

I dont think it is ugly either. Shoot I downsized haha. I started with a 55 then went to a 46 BOW Now I have a 20G Long. I think I want to swap to a 40G breeder though. Still running a 20G sump though

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY lol

Haha I just meant ugly with everything hanging over the back being visible

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 02:03 PM

Go to a sign shop and get a piece of vinyl (whatever color you want). Dont stick it to the tank but just tape it on the back. That way it gives you a background and you can change it whenever you want. That is what I did on my 46 bow.

Pigpen17 · 02/15/2014, 02:09 PM

That's my next purchas as well, a background. I was thinking about spending the money on a custom cut peice of colored plexiglass (price pending). Black or blue is classic, but I was thinking about a dk blue/grey.

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 02:11 PM

Just get the vinyl. Its cheap and works great. You can even get it on ebay...

Pigpen17 · 02/15/2014, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h8z2luze

Just get the vinyl. Its cheap and works great. You can even get it on ebay...

How dose it stand up against the old backgrounds? My experience with them has been that some parts touch the glass, and others don't making the color inconsistent and giving you that “bubbled“ look. My thought was that the plexi would be uniformed and consistent.

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 02:20 PM

I never noticed it. I did change it every few months cause it got wet and salt creep. The plexi glass might work good but then you are adding thickness to your back glass and that might mess with the level of your HOB stuff. Just a thought.

Pigpen17 · 02/15/2014, 02:24 PM

Good point. Hmmm.

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 02:31 PM

Alot of HOB stuff is adjustable though.. Just to what extent I dont know. I know I didnt think about it once and I wanted my power head under my overflow box.... Soooo the magnet for it was between the box on the back of the tank and the glass so it made my overflow box not level and I about flooded my room lol.

Chevrefils · 02/15/2014, 03:50 PM

I would paint the tank black. Its easy, cheap, and you won't need to do it again. Plus you could always easily razor blade it off if you want.

Sounds like a good plan. I'm sumpless and run HOB reef octopus skimmer. I used to run a canister and biowheel too but to be honest your skimmer will do it all. It will remove gunk from the water not allowing it to break down and dissolving into your water effecting your parameters. Just empty the collection cup and you're good for a few days. Plus you save money on equipment. I have koralias in my 75 and they're more than enough.

T5 or led lighting sounds good. Get that back painted and get some water in there!

GT350pwns · 02/15/2014, 04:17 PM

As far as backgrounds go, there is stuff that a lot of car guys use for temporary wheel color changes, accents, etc. called Plasti-Dip. Can get it in a variety of colors and it is basically a rubber coating that will easily peel off when you want it gone. Will get you a nice, uniform background without the permanence of paint. ~$7 per spray can. Wish I would've thought doing that to my 36 gal bow before I put it up. Oh well! cheap, tape on black background from my LFS will have to do!

TCReefMan · 02/15/2014, 04:22 PM

+1 on the sump. Did you get that from petsmart? I almost bought that. I believe it is non-tempered (if it is the Top Fin model) so you can drill it.

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevrefils

I would paint the tank black. Its easy, cheap, and you won't need to do it again. Plus you could always easily razor blade it off if you want.

Sounds like a good plan. I'm sumpless and run HOB reef octopus skimmer. I used to run a canister and biowheel too but to be honest your skimmer will do it all. It will remove gunk from the water not allowing it to break down and dissolving into your water effecting your parameters. Just empty the collection cup and you're good for a few days. Plus you save money on equipment. I have koralias in my 75 and they're more than enough.

T5 or led lighting sounds good. Get that back painted and get some water in there!

We're gonna go for a canister and hob skimmer our guy at my lfs recommended a psk-100h to use along with my canister and I decided to go with the fluvalsea led light and a t8 actinic bulb with the stock lighting. We bought a background
I think all we need now is a test kit, koralias, sand, rock, water test kiss and the other misc stuff. Am I missing anything?
I'll post a pic later

is my birthday so I'm getting spoiled

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCReefMan

+1 on the sump. Did you get that from petsmart? I almost bought that. I believe it is non-tempered (if it is the Top Fin model) so you can drill it.

There's a big orange sticker that says do not drill so I think it's tempered haha

h8z2luze · 02/15/2014, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hhoang

There's a big orange sticker that says do not drill so I think it's tempered haha

Dare you to drill it

lol jk.

zamboni200000 · 02/15/2014, 05:04 PM

I set up a similar tank about 4-5 months ago.... Mine is 50g, no sump. It's doing great. I run a hob skimmer, 2 koralia powerheads (850,1150). The key is to go nice and slow. My nitrates are about 1ppm. My phosphates are a little high for comfort at .36ppm.... So ill probably be adding a hob aqua clear filter soon to run gfo. Anyways, long story short I don't think a sump is necessary, however, a sump makes everything look much cleaner! No wires and heaters and filters and skimmer etc etc etc hanging everywhere. My next tank will have a sump. Good luck!

hhoang · 02/15/2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamboni200000

I set up a similar tank about 4-5 months ago.... Mine is 50g, no sump. It's doing great. I run a hob skimmer, 2 koralia powerheads (850,1150). The key is to go nice and slow. My nitrates are about 1ppm. My phosphates are a little high for comfort at .36ppm.... So ill probably be adding a hob aqua clear filter soon to run gfo. Anyways, long story short I don't think a sump is necessary, however, a sump makes everything look much cleaner! No wires and heaters and filters and skimmer etc etc etc hanging everywhere. My next tank will have a sump. Good luck!

Thank you!
It's good to know I'm headed in the right direction

02/15/2014, 12:27 PM	#1
hhoang Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 75	In Progress: Sumpless 55g Tank Hi everyone. New to the forums but I found this is a place with good advice. So my boyfriend and I are starting a reef tank, this is his first tank in general, I have had a handful of planted FW tanks and a ridiculous number of betta tanks but, this is my first reef tank. We bought a 55 gallon column like tank. Dimensions are: 30" W x 18" D x 24" H I decided to go sumpless just because I've seen successful tanks without them, just require diligence etc. So far we've gotten: tank stand fluval 306 canister (I've seen lots of reef tanks using a canister successfully with no problems, just diligence seems to be the key) HOB fluval heater We will be getting: live sand, base rock and a little live rock for seeding...thinking of order from marcorocks.com hydrometer master test kit our water supply is coming from the LFS close by, they get their saltwater straight from the Seattle Aquarium. Since salt doesn't evaporate, I can top off the tank with pure, fresh water correct? We're thinking of going with: LED lighting and replacing the stock bulb with an actinic one 2 Koralia Evolution pumps 750-850gph (the fluval pumps out about 308gph) is this going to be enough water cirulation? Should we get a HOB skimmer in addition to the canister filter? We plan on running a fowlr tank for now and then adding soft corals and anenomes later on once the tank is stable. We haven't completely decided on stock yet. Here is a picture of the tank so far, ugly I know. Any suggestions, cautions etc?

02/15/2014, 01:19 PM	#2
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	I HIGHLY reccommend adding a sump. You can build it yourself and its kinda fun. PLUS you add water volume to your system and a place to hide equipment. I did a 55G with no sump and I regretted it so much the whole time I had it. The HOB skimmers are not efficient enough imo to clean a fowlr tank (depending on stock). I would also reconsider the canister unless you want to clean it once a week. Thats another benefit to having a sump. Dont let it scare you if its plumbed right nothing bad can happen. Also with Lighting especially LED you get what you pay for. In my opinion for a 48" tank if your spending under $600 on LED's your not getting a good light. I personally would go T5. Although you arent planning a reef so it would probably be fine. Just color preference. As far as test kits... API is fine for amm, nitrite, and nitrate but the phosphate test is a joke. When you get your hydrometer take it to your LFS that has a good refractometer and have them mark on your hydrometer what it actually is. The numbers are almost always wrong on them. I had mine done and 1.025 was actually like 1.027 but they are all different. I would go with the hydor 850 or even 1150's 2 of them would do good. Drs foster and smith have them on sale right now... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=23592 Make sure you top off with RO water or you will end up with problems. Last edited by h8z2luze; 02/15/2014 at 01:27 PM.

02/15/2014, 01:39 PM	#3
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	Ha! I just got the same tank! Hitchhiking on thread. I just bought a Marineland "Reef Capable" LED light w/ timer for it. Affordable, but questionable. It will be here Tuesday. I can let you know what it looks like set up, if you wish. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/15/2014, 02:09 PM	#12
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	That's my next purchas as well, a background. I was thinking about spending the money on a custom cut peice of colored plexiglass (price pending). Black or blue is classic, but I was thinking about a dk blue/grey. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/15/2014, 02:24 PM	#16
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	Good point. Hmmm. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/15/2014, 01:41 PM	#4
hhoang Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 75	I plan on adding a sump later down the line, t5 lighting was actually my first choice and will go with it because later down the line I'd like to start some corals I can run a protein skimmer with out a sump for now correct? Other than that any other opinions?

02/15/2014, 01:42 PM	#5
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	You can get a HOB skimmer, yes. In the long run you will spend more buying that now then a in sump one later. I ran a aqua C remora Pro for awhile. It did ok. But my bubble magus curve 5 does twice what the remora did. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=24910

02/15/2014, 01:51 PM	#7
FernandoReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 53	I just want to reply in something you said at last. Your tank is not ugly man, is good to go. I think all of us started with a smaller tank and then as the wallet lets you, you can always go big man. Steady but confident.

02/15/2014, 01:55 PM	#8
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	I dont think it is ugly either. Shoot I downsized haha. I started with a 55 then went to a 46 BOW Now I have a 20G Long. I think I want to swap to a 40G breeder though. Still running a 20G sump though QUALITY NOT QUANTITY lol

02/15/2014, 02:03 PM	#11
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	Go to a sign shop and get a piece of vinyl (whatever color you want). Dont stick it to the tank but just tape it on the back. That way it gives you a background and you can change it whenever you want. That is what I did on my 46 bow.

02/15/2014, 02:11 PM	#13
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	Just get the vinyl. Its cheap and works great. You can even get it on ebay...

02/15/2014, 02:20 PM	#15
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	I never noticed it. I did change it every few months cause it got wet and salt creep. The plexi glass might work good but then you are adding thickness to your back glass and that might mess with the level of your HOB stuff. Just a thought.

02/15/2014, 02:31 PM	#17
h8z2luze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 134	Alot of HOB stuff is adjustable though.. Just to what extent I dont know. I know I didnt think about it once and I wanted my power head under my overflow box.... Soooo the magnet for it was between the box on the back of the tank and the glass so it made my overflow box not level and I about flooded my room lol.

02/15/2014, 03:50 PM	#18
Chevrefils Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 242	I would paint the tank black. Its easy, cheap, and you won't need to do it again. Plus you could always easily razor blade it off if you want. Sounds like a good plan. I'm sumpless and run HOB reef octopus skimmer. I used to run a canister and biowheel too but to be honest your skimmer will do it all. It will remove gunk from the water not allowing it to break down and dissolving into your water effecting your parameters. Just empty the collection cup and you're good for a few days. Plus you save money on equipment. I have koralias in my 75 and they're more than enough. T5 or led lighting sounds good. Get that back painted and get some water in there!

02/15/2014, 04:17 PM	#19
GT350pwns Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 600	As far as backgrounds go, there is stuff that a lot of car guys use for temporary wheel color changes, accents, etc. called Plasti-Dip. Can get it in a variety of colors and it is basically a rubber coating that will easily peel off when you want it gone. Will get you a nice, uniform background without the permanence of paint. ~$7 per spray can. Wish I would've thought doing that to my 36 gal bow before I put it up. Oh well! cheap, tape on black background from my LFS will have to do!

02/15/2014, 04:22 PM	#20
TCReefMan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 47	+1 on the sump. Did you get that from petsmart? I almost bought that. I believe it is non-tempered (if it is the Top Fin model) so you can drill it.

02/15/2014, 05:04 PM	#24
zamboni200000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 135	I set up a similar tank about 4-5 months ago.... Mine is 50g, no sump. It's doing great. I run a hob skimmer, 2 koralia powerheads (850,1150). The key is to go nice and slow. My nitrates are about 1ppm. My phosphates are a little high for comfort at .36ppm.... So ill probably be adding a hob aqua clear filter soon to run gfo. Anyways, long story short I don't think a sump is necessary, however, a sump makes everything look much cleaner! No wires and heaters and filters and skimmer etc etc etc hanging everywhere. My next tank will have a sump. Good luck!