Overhead Sump Filter for reef tank

[sassyonmane]

Starting a new nano reef 60L (15.85G).

Would using a overhead sump filter (usually used for freshwater tanks) be possible for it?
What would the limitations be in a nano tank with no skimmer and just that filter with some ceramic media and filter pads.

 

[Rhetoric]

I run my 20 gallon nano with out a skimmer. Its an AIO but I'd think you would be fine.

 

[sassyonmane]

What does aio mean? also what would you recommend for stocking, im thinking maybe a gramma or dottyback.
Would sps like acropora survive and also is it possible to keep anemone in a small low tech tank like that

 

[Australian_Reef]

I’ve run one on a FO with LR rubble in the filter box plus purigen or carbon when needed.

 

[Euphyllia97]

With that volume, I would just go for waterchanges :) Don’t see why you would really need a sump,skimmer,… on this size tank. If it’s your first tank you will buy a bigger one in a couple of months anyway

 

[twentyleagues]

It would work fine as long as its set up correctly. The problem is there is no way to stop the air bubbles from forming and getting salt creep and micro bubbles that form. On a small tank that may be a larger issue. I have done this on both my reef tanks in the past. I had low flow refugium's set up above both tanks mainly for pod production. I had multiple pod predators in both tanks and the traditional sump system/fuge in the basement didnt seem to be supplying enough pods to the tanks imo. There were tons of pods in the fuge but didnt seem to be making it to the tanks. Tanks were a 125g sps and a 120g lps. Yes, there were still some bubble issues, but fish and corals seem unaffected, but I was only sending maybe 100gph or so to those overhead tanks. I used a small piece of acrylic as a shield. I used a hole saw to cut a hole in the acrylic so it fit around the pipe with a pipe union for the acrylic to sit on that stopped most of the bubbles from sending salt spray all over inside my canopy. I would say it was a success as I saw pods in the tanks at night after about 3-4 months of them running. I was mostly worried about the dragonettes and the two dragon faced pipe fish (it was easy enough to move the pipe fish to the 75g fuge in the basement eventually) as the leopard wrasses would eat frozen but would still hunt all day long. I have 2 125g fw tanks run off of overhead sumps currently the bubbles that form dont cause any issues in fw and they work fine.You may want to look into getting a hang on back fuge/sump, cpr used to make some really nice ones with skimmers in them I had one on a 30g years ago, I dont know if they are still around.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have no filtration at all on my 15 gallon, as mentioned above, weekly water changes will easily keep the tank in good shape, my tank is almost 5 years old

 

[sassyonmane]

With that volume, I would just go for waterchanges :) Don’t see why you would really need a sump,skimmer,… on this size tank. If it’s your first tank you will buy a bigger one in a couple of months anyway

I already have a 105 gallon reef tank, just wanted to start a smaller tank to keep some nano fish or something.
How often should i do waterchanges on a tank that small? and would i worry about dosing anything

 

[sassyonmane]

If i used ceramic media from my main display and i took some liverock from that tank and put it in the nano, how long should i wait before throwing in my sinularia frags in there or spare bta's

 

[JTP424]

I already have a 105 gallon reef tank, just wanted to start a smaller tank to keep some nano fish or something.
How often should i do waterchanges on a tank that small? and would i worry about dosing anything

I'd do a typical weekly. You could do either 1 gallon or 2. I have a 15 I do 2 gallon changes on.
TECHNICALLY, if you're taking media from the larger and putting it in the smaller it should be good to go immediately, so long as you're moving enough bio-media etc.

 

[sassyonmane]

How much phosphate does this look like? it seems between 1 and 0.5
Should be safe to start adding stuff in right?

 

[Euphyllia97]

How much phosphate does this look like? it seems between 1 and 0.5
Should be safe to start adding stuff in right?

Ammonia mainly is what is dangerous for the fish. Higher Phosphate will just increase your algae growth but will not kill your fish :) I would say to quickly test ammonia, but if you added live rock rubble from your eatablished tank you should be ready to go. In saltwater we don’t care about nitrite. Tank should be ready for first fish and your frags :)

 

[MoshJosh]

Yeah, overhead sumps can work I have used them on 15 and 20 gallon tanks before. That said, if you are talking about those small acrylic ones that mount on the rim of fresh water nano tanks I would skip those as they will offer very little meaningful space for media. I used DIY overhead sumps (one was literally a 5 gallon bucket). As mentioned above this type of setup will cause bubbles in the display and saltcreep when those bubbles pop. . . I am sure there are ways of mitigating this but likey not worth it. Yes you can keep SPS including acros in a nano (I have done it), but keeping the parameters on point and stable is still essential for these coral (which of course is more difficult in smaller tanks). Nano tanks can work fine with hang on filtration and no skimmer (possibly with"no" filtration but I have never attempted this) with water changes.