Sumps and Nitrate's

Ok here is the question,

Am I really missing out not running a Sump? I am using the following with my tank at the moment.

AquaClear 70
(2) Rio 1400 powerheads
Odyssea PS75 skimmer
70 pounds of live sand
85 pounds of Rock
260w PC 2 65w Antinics 2 65w Daylights

I plan on having maybe 8-10 fish in the tank total with alot of soft LPS corals. I havign been reading about overflows and I want to know peoples opinions on not having a real sump.

I know I will have to do more water changes without having the Algae in the Sump to combat with the Nitrate's.

But will it really be that much better to run the sump or can I get away with doing changes more often?

TIA

 

for me it wasnt about the Nitrates it was about over all Clearity of the water, for example before i got my tank drilled i had a bad scum build up on the surface of the water which gave me a tonne of problems. Light penitration oxygen exchange ect. so for me it was about overall health. As for your question yes water changes are good but performed to often dont help either

 

I think your confused bwtween a sump and a refugium. A sump will house a skimmer, some kind of porous media(BB, ceramic rings, LR) or filtering pads. A refugium has the macroalgae to filter naturally. I think the refugium is a win/win situation(sp) esp. if its a combo sump and refug. Luna

 

Yeah a combo job,

I like the idea just hate the noise. I take care of another tank at my office that has a Combo Sump/Ref. but the thing is so loud there is no way I could keep one like it at my house without my wife going nutts. Are they all going to be loud do to the pumps needed or is there a way to make it somewhat quite.?

I dont mind the water moving noise but the Rawr sound would keep me up at night.

I also saw the hang on Refs that seem to be Ok. The problem is I dont see how the lights would work. I think running the lights at night will mess with corals etc.. that are spose to be alseep. Unless I run them at the same time.