no sump, what filtration?

[dogface]

Those who arent running sumps what type of filters are you guys running?

[Reefscape]

before i swapped to a system with a sump, i just used live rock as filtration..

Niko

[Cheech]

I only had live rock as well.

I had an eheim cannister (2217) filter laying around, so I added it to the tank, but with no media inside. Just to add water flow.

Depending on the type of setup you have, adding mechanical filtration can have its disadvantages in the long run.

what kind of setup do you have?

[dogface]

Mine is a fish only tank with now live rock or corals. My tank is a custom acrylic with a overflow that runs through a sump built in behind the tank. Goes through a bakpak that I added, filter sponge and drips over bio balls and runs back through with a rio pump. I was thinking about getting a tank that wasnt pre drilled and wondered what type of filtration would be needed without a sump.This tank is great but I would like a larger one. My puffers are getting to big.

[mark blevins]

What brand of tank?
I was looking at a similiar tank set up and us wondering what I would need
with my live rock for filtration thinking of going mini reef?

[dwarfgourami7]

what? can live rock just work as well as a filter??????

[Reefscape]

yes it can, provided you use the right quantities...I.E about 1 - 1.5lbs of rock per gallon of water...The live rock will provide the mechanical filtration that a filter does and you dont need to wash out the media every week..

Niko

[dwarfgourami7]

Wow, no wonder it's so expensive. I'm yet to go marine because i can't afford it unless i save up alot. If you see my sig atnixon because you can tell what its like (knowing prices of stuff in uk and how much £10 can get you) see what i mean in terms of "need more money!!!"

[Reefscape]

I know matey, it does suck a little here in not so sunny uk...what i did when i started was just keep watching local news papers for people breaking up theirs tank and swoop on the rock...

I will tell you now matey, when you do go to salt, you wont regret it.It so rewarding and far more interesting than fresh...I kept fresh for well over 5 years before switching...Never looked back...

We are here to help you make the switch anyway, PM me anytime if you want to discuss any points in more detail...

Niko

[Germanman]

check out this book it tells all about a natural aquarium with just live rock and even more detail in making biotopes.
i have tons of LR but i still use chemical filtration because of my heavy bioload.
Natural Reef Aquariums by John H. Tullock

[dwarfgourami7]

SO what makes a sump so special? if live rock can do it so you dont need a filter why do you need a sump?

[Reefscape]

I would not class a sump as special really. A sump is there purely to give you extra water volume, added filtration and nutrient removal with macro alage, a place to have all the equipment so its not in the tank.

The extra water volume aids in keeping the main eco-system stable..The extra filtration area ( refugium ) is where we can have a nutrient rich sand bed and grow macro algae like chaeto or caulerpra. The idea behind having macro algae in there is that it out-compete's algae in the display tank thus removing unsightly algae growth on rock and sand...

Niko

[dwarfgourami7]

How much would it cost to get one set up? Lets say using a 10G sump on a 55G tank?

[Reefscape]

am afraid that is a very open ended question. How much it cost is all dependant on the way it all gets plumbed and what equipment is used...

Niko

[clos10]

I've never had a sump...I use a lot of live rock and a deep sand bed and lots of circulation, I have a heavy fish load and yet my nitrates never rise over 5.

[Reefscape]

One of the reasons your nitrates never go over 5 is because of how your tank is..The live rock and the deep sand bed helps all that. When we setup a fuge / sump, that is how it is usully setup, with deep bed and live rock rubble...

But, the beauty of the sump is that you dont have to waste so much space in the display tank with all the sand and can get away with an inch or two instead of about 5 or 6 inches....

Niko

[TomToro]

When I didn't have a sump, I used LR, LS, lots of current and a hang on back refugium with lots of caulerpa. Worked o.k.

Tom