SURVEY - Can a Reef be maintained w/out sump/refugium?

[neurotech]

My 12 week old reef is using a Fluval 404 and a protein skimmer, and 43 lbs of rock going on 80. How long have you had a sumpless refugiumless tank? What size?

http://www.myproducktions.50megs.com/images/54cornertank.jpg

 

[neurotech]

ps - its a 54 gallon tank.

 

[liquid]

I've been having a fair amount of success with my 40 gal tank: http://www.liquidreef.com/

Personally if I had to do it over again, tho, I'd get a bigger tank and incorporate a refugium and a sump just to make things a little less cluttered and stick everything under the display tank.

Shane
liquid on #reefs

 

[DKKA]

You certainly don't need a sump or refugium to be successful. I've had several nice tanks that had neither. They are great additions for many reasons, but there are no aboslutes in this hobby.

You also don't need mechanical filtration. And most will tell you it is a detriment and may lead to algae problems (this is discussed in several books as well as numerous threads on this board) It would be adviseable to either disconnect the Fluval or at least remove any media from it and just use it for circ.
hth, Dan

 

[KanUCme]

I don't have a refugium, but I am using a sump. I have no mechanical filtration and still get algae.

 

[dtorrent]

I have a 20 gallon reef that also uses a Fluval 404. I don't have a sump or refugium or skimmer either. The Fluval is empty of all media and I clean it religiously. Since my tank is so small, the Fluval makes water changes a breeze. The Fluval holds about 3 gallons of water. I therefore do a 3 gallon water change every 5 days. I simply disconnect the filter via the stop valve, take it to the bathtub, dump out the 3 gallons of water, rinse all parts of any detritus, and reconnect the hoses. I then let the Fluval fill up again, thereby draining the tank of 3 gallons of water, which I replace with new saltwater.

This tank has been successful for over a year.

 

[Buzz]

I've been running my 20 gallon sumpless, refugiumless for over 3 years now. The only thing that even closely resembles a sump/refugium is a stripped out skilter that houses my thermometer and quite a few critters. Probably holds 1 gallon or so.

Everything in the tank has been doing quite well including an anemone which has been with me for 3-4 years now and been thru 3 moves. Looks like a sump isn't completely necessary although I really wouldn't mind having one to add stability especially in a little 20 gallon tank.

 

[bigtank]

My 70 is sumpless with no refugium. I would definitely use a sump if I could do it all over again. There are just too many benefits IMO, especially on a largish tank like mine.

I don't think a refugium is such a big deal, despite their popularity. That's just what I think.

 

[HARRISON]

I started with a 40 gallon that had no sump or refugium. I did use a skimmer though. it was fine but I wanted more water volume and more places to hide stuff so I got a bigger tank and a sump/refugium. I am glad I did...

HARRISON

 

[zt allstar]

Buzz, that's a good idea on putting a heater in the skilter. I am sumpless and with no fuge on my 50 and would like to hide a few things (hang on). How even is the temp, I have my heater next to a MaxiJet and don't have any fluctuations(sp?)

 

[IBJJ]

I have a 60 Gal sump on my 180 and I'm thinking about plumbing my 55 into it as a refugium...If I can only figure out the best way to do it.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a 37gal with 40lbs LR, 4"DSB, skimmer no sump/refugium (I think adding a return pump would put my tank temps over the edge during the summertime). Corals are thriving, but I am fighting some hair algae right now (not enough cleanup crew). I do think a refugium would help--it'd be have a place to put a ton of macro algae.