New aquarium setup question

[fishman]

Hey all! I currently have a 125 with FOWLR. In my tank I have 2 clowns, 1 damsel, LM Blenny, and 1 yellow wrasse. Also have about 55 LBS of LR and CC as a bed…..(I know bad idea)!!!
Anyway, Im looking to buy a 75-125 gallon SW and do the same except have more LR and live sand. My question is I hear of some people using nothing but LR for filteration and maybe a skimmer.
I know a lot of people are dead set on the wet dry and this is what I have as well for my 125. However, Im thinking of simply using a 15 gallon tank as a sump, dropping in a skimmer and maybe a UV sterilizer along with some smalls pumps for water movement. Does anyone see anything wrong with this? I really don’t see any benefit to buying a “sump” with the filteration other than a sponge to filter out the big pieces of stuff coming from the tank…hope this makes sense.

 

[steve-s]

Sumps make things simpler in terms of maintenace and storing equipment but are not essential to a successful tank. Both my reef tanks filtration are primarily LR and a good skimmer with a 1-1½" aragonite sandbed. I employ canisters on both but that is strictly for carbon (chemi-pure) or other resin media not filtration. Personally I wouldn't bother with the UV but that is your choice.

Cheers
Steve

 

[BillyZ]

most folks simply use a sump to house unsightly equipment. Allows you use an in-sump skimmer, throw in a couple heaters, attach the hoses for a chiller and for the UV Sterilizer etc, and the only thing visible in the display tank is the overflow and return hose. That can be a lot of ugly connectors and hoses and attachments etc when you're trying to create a beautiful tank. Also, keeping that stuff out of the tank makes more ROOM in the tank for fish/rock etc.

The only other real benifit to adding a sump, is the additional water volume that is added to the system. More water volume means more stable water parameters etc. Makes the system more balanced.

 

[fishman]

so instead of using an "official sump", can one use a 15 gallon fish tank as the sump? I would think this would be fairly practical in that I can do a skimmer and heaters there??

 

[BillyZ]

absolutely.

 

[jamal-188]

I use various wal-mart rubbermaid tubs as sumps