Do I have to have a sump?

I am setting up a 55g reef tank. I'm not wanting any demanding corals, just a few hardy ones and a few reef fish. I keep seeing that you have to have one. Is this true? If it is true can somebody, ANYBODY direct me to a site that tells you how to build one ? Something in simple, basic terms that a newbie can understand. I haven't found one yet

 

There's Sticky On This Forum>>>

Hi,
there's asticky on this forum..

http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/how-make-sump-31712.html

 

I haven't checked out the link, I am sure it's good. You do not NEED a sump, they are helpful but they have their pros and cons like everything else.

Nothing says it's an absolute must. You can certainly have a successful tank without one.

 

Haha, we'll see how you feel about that in a couple months. This hobby is more addicting then smoking! Soon you'll be inquiring about MHs vs T5s so you can start keeping acros and acans and zoos, oh my!! ;D

 

One Last Thought

HI,
If your tanks is looking dirty excessive algae and constanly scraping alage off the glass and stuff you may be feeding to much,
Just a thought.
Doug

 

Welcome Smitty65,

I agree with justphish, you don't really need one to have a reef tank. And there are pro's and Con's.

Pro's
1. Fully oxygenate the water in the biological filter chamber, which makes nitrification proceed very rapidly.
2. Allow you to store certain aquarium equip on or in the sump for example, skimmer, instead of having them on the main tank display.
3.You can do your feeding, add new water from evaporation, add trace elements and water changes from the sump.
4.Helps maintain proper water level in your main tank.
5.Increased Tank volume of water, which is good.

Con's
1.With bio-balls in the sump, it can be a nitrate factory causing high nitrates in main tank.

Your choice, remember it's not needed for a successful tank.

 

IMO, a sump can greatly enhance your tank and its inhabitants!! The pros far outweigh the cons as well though as mentioned above it isn't critical or necessary!
To increase surface area, water volume, have equipment safely hidden out of the naked eye's view of your tank, possible separate sump and refugium in one tank is also a beneficial feature! I would skip the bio-balls and just use live rock and/or sand to add more beneficial bacteria for your biological filtration!
And yes to allow you to add/dose trace minerals and vitamins and add water that has evaporated without being placed in your main tank possibly stressing out your livestock due to concentration of saltwater being lessened at certain times.
Really the only con I see is the possibility of your sump overflowing if you have a power failure or problem with a pump clogging or malfunctioning!!!

 

What Coral Reefer said!

 

Thanks so much for all the info ! The power outage thing was the main reason I asked. During the summer months I come home at least once a week, if not more, to all the clocks flashing due to outages. My LFS guy said that he wouldn't have one due to the outages but I wanted other opinions. I am terrible about asking what others think. But, I figure that what may be the "thing" for one is not neccesarily the right thing for me. Thank you again !