how would you filter this KISS 40br??

[Devaji]

OK guys longs story short I am moving my SCA 90 reef to a different room while doing that I decided to make that tank a sea horse set up! ( been wanting to do that for years )

that said my few fish and corals that are not SH safe need a home. so I have a few 40br around that I was planning do a FW planted tank...that can wait for now but in order not to get to many tanks I am trying to keep the smallish 40br reef as KISS as possible.

the tank will focus on euphillia, and rock nems both pretty hardy. med amount of LR.

so now my options and I have been going back and forth for days now but as the time comes closer to move the tank gets closer I need to get a plan.

I am between sumping it or HOB. both have there pros and cons.

sump cons:
~have yet another tank in the small house. its a rental
~will have to buy another 40br for the FW planted when that time comes.
~will have to drill or get a HOB overflow and make the sump.
~have to plumb it.

sump pros:
~easily hide equipment like heater & upflow ATS
~adds about 25ish gal total water volume
~ can run filter floss
~ could make a small 10gal ATO res in there.
~ all ready have a new SCA 302 skimmer

and if I just went with all HOB it would seem alot simpler but is it really?


HOB pros:
hopefully less equipment...but maybe not?
maybe a cleaner sleeker look?


HOB cons

~would have to sale the skimmer and get a good HOB skimmer
~was hopping to run an upflow ATS would have to go intank
~ if I did not want ATS in take would have to buy a HOB fuge for it.=$$
~ heater in tank


another option is make it an AIO.
but that seems like cool idea but dont really get much out of that except to hide the heater and maybe the ATS.

so how would you guys/gals filter a KISS 40br??

what is a better HOB skimmer aquamax 1.5 or reef octo 1000?

 

[Brew12]

One of the most amazing systems I have ever seen was a 40B that only used a heater and power heads. It was a full blown SPS tank. My understanding is that maintenance on the tank consisted of a 5g weekly water change.

If I were going to run a smaller tank that was primarily euphyllia I would strongly consider going this route. Of course, it is also assuming the tank will be relatively lightly stocked. The simplicity was amazing. A heater controller and ATO.

If you want it heavily stocked, I would go with a sump!

 

[Devaji]

@Brew12 no it will not be heavy stocked. I will be doing weekly water changes on the SH tank anyway so I could just do that.
but maybe a HOB skimmer is a good idea anyway?
I also have ab AC 50 with intank media basket I could trow on there as I like the sound + it might help some

 

[Devaji]

OR I could just a HOB fuge and run an ATS in it and call it a day...

 

[Brew12]

OR I could just a HOB fuge and run an ATS in it and call it a day...

If I ever get brave enough to go this route, I will try to set up my rockscape where it would hide the heater and a little pod hotel made out of egg crate. If I needed an ATS I would likely go with the HOG2 so I could avoid any type of HOB system.

 

[Devaji]

If I ever get brave enough to go this route, I will try to set up my rockscape where it would hide the heater and a little pod hotel made out of egg crate. If I needed an ATS I would likely go with the HOG2 so I could avoid any type of HOB system.

yeah I have a DIY version of that. was working pretty good on my 90 until I decided I wanted a water fall ATS and took it off line.
I thought about just adding that to the tank as the main filter system but the air bubbles could drive me nuts? salt creep? noise?

I think I made it for 1.5 cubes it would be a fun project to see how the reef does skimmer less.

check this out: HOB AIO
https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMax...uariums_Reefs-AquaMaxx-UJ94651-FIPSHO-vi.html

does see much info or reviews on it but the idea is kinda cool...when if it worked that is.

 

[Devaji]

man I keep going back in forth between sump and no sump....why is this so hard...haha guess i should just make up my mind and stick with it.

 

[nereefpat]

I wouldn't mess with non-essential equipment in a 40 breeder.

Live rock
Heater
A couple powerheads
Weekly water changes

 

[Gareth elliott]

Following along! went the mid tech route on my 40b with dosers, 2 reactors, oversized skimmer would love to see a new KISS setup.

I would vote sump just to hide the heater and ato sensors.

 

[Devaji]

yeah once I make up my mind that I start to think about the other. I have a stand that will fit a 40br for a sump have that to along with a skimmer. all I need is an overflow either life Reef if I dont want to drill. or the eshop ellipse if I do.
so add a HOB overflow and call it a day...

then I start to think how nice a sumpless tank could be but so i dont have so much equipment. BUT then again it might be more visible.
I like less crap man it crazy how much you collect with reefing. I dont even have a LFS or many ppl in my area...

I think once the house rearrange is dont and I can see the layout of the new fish room or I mean.... "living room" I might have a better idea.

anyone know what that stuff is called BRS used in there sump on the ULM softie for the divider?

 

[Gareth elliott]

yeah once I make up my mind that I start to think about the other. I have a stand that will fit a 40br for a sump have that to along with a skimmer. all I need is an overflow either life Reef if I dont want to drill. or the eshop ellipse if I do.
so add a HOB overflow and call it a day...

then I start to think how nice a sumpless tank could be but so i dont have so much equipment. BUT then again it might be more visible.
I like less **** man it crazy how much you collect with reefing. I dont even have a LFS or many ppl in my area...

I think once the house rearrange is dont and I can see the layout of the new fish room or I mean.... "living room" I might have a better idea.

anyone know what that stuff is called BRS used in there sump on the ULM softie for the divider?

I think that was just an aquamesh filter pad cut to size.

 

[Devaji]

^ yeah I got a link from BRS if I go sump it will be supper simple..