sump

Started first reef tank four months ago--50 gals. I have great lightling, protein skimmer, two power heads and a canister filter with bio-wheels. Corals are doing ok but been told I should replace my canister filter with a sump. I do not have any room below my tank for a sump. Is my setup ok? Rick

 

from my experience canisters work great for a newer tank but as it ages it becomes a nitrate factory, personally i prefer no bio-wheels and no canisters, i was using a protein skimmer in a sump and that was it, worked pretty well for me too, imo fuges are the best way to go though but there is alot of people here with way more experience than i do

 

i would agree with iraf, a sump and a skimmer should be enough, with fairly frequent water changes. you only have a 50g so what ever roon you have for the canister would better be used on a smaller sump, maybe a 20 tall.

 

Sump has provides great advantages if you can manage one.

Of course not absolutely necessary if you can't.

Efficient skimmer and a close eye on water params will suffice in most cases.

Any way to put one somewhere near tank if not room under.

Could camouflage in nice cabinet or something else.


Good Luck!

 

The Sump adds water volume to the set up also which is helpful for water parameters. Could you fit a 10 gallon under the tank?8)