Need Opinions Please!

gregghia

gregghia

Member
Is sump a must???
Ok I am now going to go for the 55 or 75 gal setup... before I do I really need help with the filtering choice! I want a great setup with few fish, a few soft corals, not to much but clean looking tank.
Can I have a successful reef without a sump? If I do HOT I can set everything up myself and probably save $ by doing myself since there is no plumbing and less equipment. If I do sump costs a little more (seems to be better filtering) but then I personally would need help from LFS. One of the things that most concerns me of all this is my floors. i have had to replace an entire downstairs floor from a leaking refrigerator after a weeks vacation.....
I really need help before i pull this trigger! OPINIONS PLEASE.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
The only real advantage to HOT is that it's cheaper. Having a sump not only allows you to hide all your equipment, but it increases your total water volume and makes it easier for you to add features, like a refugium. The only drawback is that it's more expensive. Not sure why you think you need help from the LFS. A sump is relatively easy to setup. All you really need is a reef-ready tank with some sort of corner overflow, a cabinet with a hole drilled in the top for the plumbing to go through, a sump tank, plumbing tubing, and a submersible pump. If you've got all the equipment, it should be pretty easy to figure out how to put it all together.
 
mopar9012

mopar9012

Active Member
If you have a sump, your tank will look nice and clean. You wont see any filters or skimmers. I wouldnt think its that much money. Really if you buy a reef ready tank all you have to do its get some pipe to hook it up to the sump and have a power head pump it back up. Thats what my LFS told me
 
gregghia

gregghia

Member
I hear you... just nervous about the plumbing side and doing it myself. I am pretty handy but if I miss something the mess would kill me. I am going to read but just really want the experienced opinions before I make the final choice.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by gregghia
I hear you... just nervous about the plumbing side and doing it myself. I am pretty handy but if I miss something the mess would kill me. I am going to read but just really want the experienced opinions before I make the final choice.
As far as plumbing goes, it's two tubes - one going down to the sump and one going back up to the tank. Everything attaches with barbed fittings and hose clamps. Really, it's probably the least complicated thing you'll have to do with the tank.
 
gregghia

gregghia

Member
OK so barring how the looks of the tank are meaning no HOT equipment visible which does everyone feel is better overall? I like the sump because it really makes me know what I am doing and probably have better outcome but the HOT seems SOOOOO much easier from a long term maintenance perspective. Keep in mind I am not lazy. I have got into this hobby full force... ready to work just being realistic.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
Actually in the long term maint. aspect the sump is the easier way to go. It also kind of depends on what you have in your sump. But it is a good place to hide some of your equipment from being in your DT, such as a heater and skimmer.....
Although I kind of disagree with rbaldino about what you need for the set up I do agree that it is realtively easy once you actually do it.
 
joe4117

joe4117

New Member
Sump Is In your long term interest, yea you have to do some plumbing but really not hard at all.( and you learn a new trade)lol. but in all you can add all kinds of stuff to it like a ref, for a quartine/ and skimmer wont mess with the visual effects. But all in all you have to make the choice we only give ideas, you make the final move.
 
gregghia

gregghia

Member
I already have a great Remora Pro HOT skimmer so that would not be part of sump but i would like a refuge or QT. Any major potential issue ie "overflow" with sumps. Assuming plumbed lines are good. I iagine there is no way for tank to leak if sump tank is proper size? Also if return pump stops working is that an issue????
Any good links with pics or instructions so I can stop bothering the PROS?
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
There are a couple of ways to deal with water siphoning back into your sump if something happens. One way is to drill a hole in the return line at the water level in your tank. That way if your power goes out, when the water level reaches that point air enters the line and breaks the siphon effect. I personally do not recommend one way or check valves. Too much that can go wrong with them.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scotts
There are a couple of ways to deal with water siphoning back into your sump if something happens. One way is to drill a hole in the return line at the water level in your tank. That way if your power goes out, when the water level reaches that point air enters the line and breaks the siphon effect. I personally do not recommend one way or check valves. Too much that can go wrong with them.
That works, and you must also remember that your sump isn't supposed to be filled all the way. You need to allow room for the water that will drain down from the display tank when the pump is off.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scotts
Actually in the long term maint. aspect the sump is the easier way to go. It also kind of depends on what you have in your sump. But it is a good place to hide some of your equipment from being in your DT, such as a heater and skimmer.....
Although I kind of disagree with rbaldino about what you need for the set up I do agree that it is realtively easy once you actually do it.
What do you disagree with? I ran a sump like that for many years without any problems.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
rb, I agree that what you describe is a great set up. What I disagree with is that you NEED a corner overflow in your tank, submersible pump, and flexible tubing, While these are good to have they ae not required. Anyone reading this that has a regular tank, like I do, and have a sump, like I do. That is all, just a matter of semantics really.
 
92protruck

92protruck

Member
you mentioned you had a Remora Pro that would not be part of the sump. I have the same skimmer and like it better in the sump. I found it a pain to take it off the tank for cleaning. I had to move lights and disrupt the tank somewhat when removing the pump for maitenance. It looks 1000% better hanging on the side of my sump and I don't have to fight with my canopy and lights to remove and clean it. I also think it works better. Just another thought to throw in the mix.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scotts
rb, I agree that what you describe is a great set up. What I disagree with is that you NEED a corner overflow in your tank, submersible pump, and flexible tubing, While these are good to have they ae not required. Anyone reading this that has a regular tank, like I do, and have a sump, like I do. That is all, just a matter of semantics really.
Well, you need some sort of overflow to get water from the DT down to the sump. Corners are the most common, but there are some in the middle or so, and you can also use a siphon overflow box, but that defeats one of the purposes of having a sump, which is to not have anything hanging on the back. Besides, if you haven't even gotten a tank yet and want to run a sump, the best thing to do is to buy a reef-ready tank with an overflow. You also NEED some sort of pump and plumbing. A submersible pump and tubing is the easiest/cheapest way of doing it, especially on a smaller setup.
 
rbaldino

rbaldino

Active Member
Originally Posted by gregghia
Anyone for HOT (Emperor) filters versus sump... curious?
I think this is an area where you're slightly confused. The sump isn't really a filter, it's a water collection space and a place to mount equipment. A sump tank on its own isn't doing any sort of filtering. For mechanical/chemical filtration, you'll still need some sort of media placed in an area where water passes through. This can be in the overflow, at the water outlet into the sump, or even a filter hung on the sump tank.
 
gregghia

gregghia

Member
bump...
RBALDINO, The light bulb just went off! Got it... thank you.
When you boil it down seems like the sump is the best way to go for a high quality "complete" tank standpoint that is aesthetically top notch and it seems like you learn alot. I can see all the beneifts as I read.
I still need to ask this... Do I need to do a sump? My grand plan would be take what I have in my current 29 gal: 2 Chromis, 1 Blenny, 1 Shrimp, 1 Gramma, small cleaner crew (eventaully add 1-2 percs) and get into a few soft corals. Also would do about 70 lbs of LR and LS. Really want to keep it in check....
I wanted a 55 or 75gal more for the clean look in the living room, higher quality water and really don't mind it looking a little empty. I guess thats a "reef" but I am not jam packing it.
Do folks have success with HOT filter + skimmer and no sump? I know I am overthinking this but I want best results and same time minimize any risks AKA floods.
Thanks.
 
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