Switch to sump system?

[RocksNStuff]

Hi,
I currently have a 75gallon mixed reef that's been running for about 9 months with the following critters:

2 clownfish
2 watchman gobies
2 yellowtail damsels
4 fire fish
1 Neon dotty back
1 Scopas Tang
1 BTA

Various LPS
Various softies
Various invertebrates

Parameters are as follows (average over last 6 weeks):
pH 8.2 to 8.5
Temp 78 to 79
Nitrates 0 (recently added about 10lbs of live rock and that dropped my N03 to 0. Previously it was around 10 ppm.) I'm feeding zoo and reef roids to keep corals and BTA happy.
Ca 450
Mg 1450
Alk 8.5 dkh

I currently have just a hang-on-back filter and two powerheads.

I see a lot about sumps and refugiums and am wondering if it's worth while to set those up?

In the future, I'd like a few SPS and a lot more LPS and more fish. Will I eventually need a "better" filter system?

 

[PeterC99]

If it’s working, then why do you want to change? Sounds like you have things dialed in nicely!

How about some pics?

 

[RocksNStuff]

If it’s working, then why do you want to change? Sounds like you have things dialed in nicely!

How about some pics?

Yeah, I guess I'm trying to plan for the future. Like will not having a fuge and a sump hold me back in the long run? Here are some pics!

 

[Pistondog]

A refugium is a great idea. Potentially, reducing water changes to keep params more stable is a good goal.

 

[Jeffcb]

You don't to have a sump.

 

[PeterC99]

Yeah, I guess I'm trying to plan for the future. Like will not having a fuge and a sump hold me back in the long run? Here are some pics!

Great pics! Very nice setup!

Upgrade when you need to. Never know what will happen between now and then (who knows - you may see someone selling a bigger aquarium with sump at a great deal).

 

[RocksNStuff]

Thanks all!

 

[RocksNStuff]

Just cause I'm a newbie, is it possible to do a fuge without a sump? I don't see how...?

I'm wondering if I can piecemeal the sump/fuge/skimmer etc?

 

[PeterC99]

Just cause I'm a newbie, is it possible to do a fuge without a sump? I don't see how...?

I'm wondering if I can piecemeal the sump/fuge/skimmer etc?

Yes - Hang on Refugium or Tunze Micro Algae Reactor.

Great Thinking And you have options!

 

[blasterman]

Or you can stuff a big HOB filter with chaeto and call it a fuge.

Sumps are nice for utility. You can cram them full of gear you don't want in your tank and tuck it away.

Since you have low nutrients you don't needs chaeto in your sump.

Also nice to dump your over flow water into a filter sock or filter floss in your sump and ditch the HOB filter.