Do I have to run a sump?

[Fish_Tank_J]

I have a 70 gallon tank I am setting up. It will be a reef and fish aquarium. I was wondering if I need to run a sump or not. I am planning on doing 2 hang on back filters or maybe a canister filter.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

No, you definitely don't need a sump. It is really helpful though for a bunch of different reasons, including giving you a place external of the tank to mount other equipment, increasing the overall system volume and helping remove the scum that can collect at the surface of the water and inhibit gas exchange and light transmission. But a sump is far from a requirement.

I started my very first reef tank with a canister filter and, honestly, I'd not do that again. They're a pain to clean, meaning you are likely to clean it less often and so it can become a nutrient sink. Better to use a good hang on back protein skimmer; the mechanical & chemical filtration that most external filters employ are less necessary for reef tanks, where you really want the biological filter living on the rock.

Hope that helps!

 

[Scorchx1245]

I have a 70 gallon tank I am setting up. It will be a reef and fish aquarium. I was wondering if I need to run a sump or not. I am planning on doing 2 hang on back filters or maybe a canister filter.

No to the canister. They become nitrate factories if not cleaned weekly. You don't have to have a sump. Plenty of HOB options. But sump makes it more aesthetic. And opens up more options for refuge, in sump skimmer and just easier for dosing pumps etc. So no you don't have to have one but if your not wet het you can build your own.

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

No, you definitely don't need a sump. It is really helpful though for a bunch of different reasons, including giving you a place external of the tank to mount other equipment, increasing the overall system volume and helping remove the scum that can collect at the surface of the water and inhibit gas exchange and light transmission. But a sump is far from a requirement.

I started my very first reef tank with a canister filter and, honestly, I'd not do that again. They're a pain to clean, meaning you are likely to clean it less often and so it can become a nutrient sink. Better to use a good hang on back protein skimmer; the mechanical & chemical filtration that most external filters employ are less necessary for reef tanks, where you really want the biological filter living on the rock.

Hope that helps!

Thank you for the information that really points me on the right path.

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

No to the canister. They become nitrate factories if not cleaned weekly. You don't have to have a sump. Plenty of HOB options. But sump makes it more aesthetic. And opens up more options for refuge, in sump skimmer and just easier for dosing pumps etc. So no you don't have to have one but if your not wet het you can build your own.

Thank you for the suggestions.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

No, you definitely don't need a sump. It is really helpful though for a bunch of different reasons, including giving you a place external of the tank to mount other equipment, increasing the overall system volume and helping remove the scum that can collect at the surface of the water and inhibit gas exchange and light transmission. But a sump is far from a requirement.

I started my very first reef tank with a canister filter and, honestly, I'd not do that again. They're a pain to clean, meaning you are likely to clean it less often and so it can become a nutrient sink. Better to use a good hang on back protein skimmer; the mechanical & chemical filtration that most external filters employ are less necessary for reef tanks, where you really want the biological filter living on the rock.

Hope that helps!

I can say from the research I have done-- it is not required but as @S-t-r-e-t-c-h said it is the better choice for a number of really good reasons. The hurdles can be overcome with build and advice threads, youtube videos and a bit of trial and error. I would encourage you to strongly consider one if at all possible.

 

[Paul B]

I have never had a sump and I have been doing this a while so you don't need one. They are a concern for leaks but can be very beneficial. I am moving soon and will move my tank into a new glass and I still probably won't be adding a sump

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

I have never had a sump and I have been doing this a while so you don't need one. They are a concern for leaks but can be very beneficial. I am moving soon and will move my tank into a new glass and I still probably won't be adding a sump

Ok thank you just didn't know if I needed one I am planning on not doing one. You just hear so much about them I thought you might need one.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I don't have sump and my tank do not need a sump to do well. I'm using canisters filter and take me few minutes to swap/clean out the mechanical filtration everyday if I needed to do that. The only reason to have a sump is more water volume and nicer looking display tank without all the intake from HoB, canister filter and heater and space for skimmer.

 

[lion king]

For a 70g I would recommend a Seachem Tidal, an Eshopps Hob skimmer, and an algae reactor. You can run these to size or step up one size for added insurance. You can do a diy for the algae reactor or Marine Depot puts a nice one together. You'll find plenty of threads on diy algae reactors, I even did one with a brs reactor. One of my 90g runs like this and all my numbers are zip, including nitrates.