Thinking of Dumping my Sump After a Year?

JR8999 · 02/14/2015, 04:23 PM

I have been running a 14g sump with just filter socks for over a year.
I have a good HOB skimmer running and it's doing a fine job.
I would like some advice on the pros and cons of getting rid of my overflow and sump. My water quaility is always very good and has remained consistent since cycling over a year ago.

am 0
nitrates 0
temp 79.5
salinity 1.023
Ca 430
Alk 8.1
Mg 1240

joshky · 02/14/2015, 05:04 PM

Filter socks are really nice, why are you thinking of removing your sump? Initially the two things I can think of are

○ Less filtration due to loss of filter sock
○ Less water volume
○ More equipment in your DT, unless you're not really utilizing your sump that much...

mfaso24 · 02/14/2015, 05:17 PM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

JR8999 · 02/16/2015, 12:02 PM

Thanks mfaso24....brings me back to earth. It's almost like I'm itchy to do something new when my DT has been virtually flawless for over a year with the sump even with just socks. I will leave well enough alone and enjoy.

slief · 02/16/2015, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshky

Filter socks are really nice, why are you thinking of removing your sump? Initially the two things I can think of are

○ Less filtration due to loss of filter sock
○ Less water volume
○ More equipment in your DT, unless you're not really utilizing your sump that much...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfaso24

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

+1!

As mfaso said, if it aint broke, don't fix it. Your tank is doing well so you are obviously doing something right and your system is setup well enough to reflect that. Why change a good thing?

Mishri · 02/16/2015, 12:12 PM

Yep I agree, don't change it, it's setup and working for you.

I don't like running sumps, they have their drawbacks and advantages, the equipment hiding is the best advantage. The skimmers work better, but a good HOB one can do what you need it to, as you are seeing. The other good advantage is having a place for macro algae and pests to go in a fuge. (an algae scrubber can serve half that role, the pests thing, just kill 'em).. no good place for automated systems without a sump.

The drawbacks of risking flood (although many people have it down to no risk, but I don't know anybody personally who hasn't had a flood using one) and additional cost per tank.

Someday I'll likely go back to using them... right now I'm happy without. I certainly don't think they are necessary for a reef as some people claim. But I don't use auto anything... I have trust issues with inanimate objects... possibly with animate ones as well...

mfaso24 · 02/16/2015, 12:53 PM

I don't have a sump and honestly wish I did. The only reason I don't is because I got the tank for free from a family member and it wasn't drilled. First saltwater tank too so I didn't know better. Trust me I wish I could run carbon and macro algae cause my corals are doing OK. Not thriving or growing really much.

Compliance · 02/16/2015, 01:29 PM

You could put that HOB skimmer in the sump for a change....kinda the big benefit of a sump - not having the equipment in the display...

Mishri · 02/16/2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfaso24

I don't have a sump and honestly wish I did. The only reason I don't is because I got the tank for free from a family member and it wasn't drilled. First saltwater tank too so I didn't know better. Trust me I wish I could run carbon and macro algae cause my corals are doing OK. Not thriving or growing really much.

You can run carbon in a HOB or Canister filter, you can use an algae scrubber that will do the same thing that macro algae does.. or put your macro algae in the display, which I've done too. (Just anchor it under rocks so it doesn't get sucked into a pump)

mfaso24 · 02/16/2015, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishri

You can run carbon in a HOB or Canister filter, you can use an algae scrubber that will do the same thing that macro algae does.. or put your macro algae in the display, which I've done too. (Just anchor it under rocks so it doesn't get sucked into a pump)

Yeah I hear ya. I just hate hob equipment. I only have a skimmer cause I feel it's totally necessary...may try the macro in the display tank but I'm not sure if I'll like how that looks either. I'm picky I know

02/14/2015, 04:23 PM	#1
JR8999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 345	Thinking of Dumping my Sump After a Year? I have been running a 14g sump with just filter socks for over a year. I have a good HOB skimmer running and it's doing a fine job. I would like some advice on the pros and cons of getting rid of my overflow and sump. My water quaility is always very good and has remained consistent since cycling over a year ago. am 0 nitrates 0 temp 79.5 salinity 1.023 Ca 430 Alk 8.1 Mg 1240 __________________ 56g Column DT, 11g Aqueon sump with/socks, Lifereef overflow, Aqumaxx HOB-1 Skimmer, 2 Jaebo heaters, DT: 2 OC Clowns and 1 Royal Gramma along with various corals grown from frags. Current Tank Info: 56g Column

02/14/2015, 05:04 PM	#2
joshky Acros & Wrasses Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Central KY Posts: 2,546	Filter socks are really nice, why are you thinking of removing your sump? Initially the two things I can think of are ○ Less filtration due to loss of filter sock ○ Less water volume ○ More equipment in your DT, unless you're not really utilizing your sump that much... __________________ Josh My 80g: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2677031

02/16/2015, 12:02 PM	#4
JR8999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 345	Thanks mfaso24....brings me back to earth. It's almost like I'm itchy to do something new when my DT has been virtually flawless for over a year with the sump even with just socks. I will leave well enough alone and enjoy. __________________ 56g Column DT, 11g Aqueon sump with/socks, Lifereef overflow, Aqumaxx HOB-1 Skimmer, 2 Jaebo heaters, DT: 2 OC Clowns and 1 Royal Gramma along with various corals grown from frags. Current Tank Info: 56g Column

02/16/2015, 12:12 PM	#6
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	Yep I agree, don't change it, it's setup and working for you. I don't like running sumps, they have their drawbacks and advantages, the equipment hiding is the best advantage. The skimmers work better, but a good HOB one can do what you need it to, as you are seeing. The other good advantage is having a place for macro algae and pests to go in a fuge. (an algae scrubber can serve half that role, the pests thing, just kill 'em).. no good place for automated systems without a sump. The drawbacks of risking flood (although many people have it down to no risk, but I don't know anybody personally who hasn't had a flood using one) and additional cost per tank. Someday I'll likely go back to using them... right now I'm happy without. I certainly don't think they are necessary for a reef as some people claim. But I don't use auto anything... I have trust issues with inanimate objects... possibly with animate ones as well... __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

02/14/2015, 05:17 PM	#3
mfaso24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 800	If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

02/16/2015, 12:53 PM	#7
mfaso24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 800	I don't have a sump and honestly wish I did. The only reason I don't is because I got the tank for free from a family member and it wasn't drilled. First saltwater tank too so I didn't know better. Trust me I wish I could run carbon and macro algae cause my corals are doing OK. Not thriving or growing really much.

02/16/2015, 01:29 PM	#8
Compliance Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 144	You could put that HOB skimmer in the sump for a change....kinda the big benefit of a sump - not having the equipment in the display...