Reef tank without protein skimmer or sump?

[adamRS80]

I'm sure the answer to this is probably no, however I have to ask. I'd like to set up an under 50 gallon reef tank using a high end canister filter such as the Fluval G series. I'm trying to avoid having an overflow and sump, or anything hanging off of the back or sides (i.e. overflow boxes, skimmers, refugium, etc.) and I'm trying to avoid a tank with built in filtration such as the Innovative Marine or Red Sea systems. My main question is can I oversize the filter, have a surface skimmer and do without a protein skimmer on a tank with a low bio-load and a high turnover rate? I could potentially install an in-tank skimmer but my goal is to keep it as simple as possible. My wife has an aversion to wet/dry sumps, water on the floor, the musty smell coming from the sump and they way most of my tanks have looked more like science projects.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Zack]

Canisters have been known to cause major issues with saltwater tanks. Essentially they become nitrate factories overtime, although if run strictly with carbon they can be useful as a reactor. I'd say from experience a tank under 30 gallons can be ran with more frequent water changes and no skimmer. My tank has 11 gallons of water and no skimmer and has been doing great.

[slm222]

Yes you can accomplish what you want, but don't do canister filter as zack said. You can do a softy tank with a lot of bio filtration, macro algae, surface agitation and weekly water changes. But the addition of a hang on the side filter is preferable for carbon and water agititation.

[Triggerman]

It can be done but most people don't keep up with cleaning the canister & media out on a regular basis tobe successful...the canister can be used in a closed loop situation for a clean setup...go oversized the GPH rate reduces pretty quickly as the filter becomes dirty. The canister could also leak at the seals at any given time causing a leak so they are not fail safe.

The only fail safe will be an internal filter or AIO tank...for an internal filter check out tunze model.

[adamRS80]

Well it sounds like it's not a good idea. Thanks fellas.

What is an AIO tank? Will look into the Tunze filter

[Triggerman]

Tunze comline 3163... Nice compact filtration that will keep it simple...skims the surface and has a nano stream even has a space for a heater.

It's about $90 which is not bad for a Tunze product.

AIO-all in one like your Red Sea, JBJ, innovative systems

[Zack]

Lookup ace's tank build in the large tanks forum (250 gallon username hobogato) he ran a canister filter on
it for carbon and had no skimmer. He had some really great advice there. If you can't find it I'll try to link you to it tomorrow, trying to type on my phone LOL

[adamRS80]

I looked up the Tunze filters, looks very interesting. Will look up aces build as well. Maybe a less expensive canister could be used just a contact chamber for carbon, chemipure as you mentioned.

[jcnkt_ellis]

It can be done with no sump, skimmer or canister. I have a 20 long SPS tank setup this way for the last year with no problems. Weekly water changes and very little fish is key.

[LuckySingh]

Can be done as my 1st tank was nano Sps without any sort of filtration. If u follow strict maintenance routine u should be ok . Also depends on what kinda of corals u r targeting.

[adamRS80]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely go with the Tunze just to make things easier. I tend to understock my tanks. I don't like them crowded.

[Triggerman]

The Tunze gets pretty good reviews so Im pretty sure you will have good results in a low bioload system...I would also run GFO in one of the chambers. I've had the best results with rowaphos compared to other brands.

[adamRS80]

Is there a link to all the reef acronyms that I don't know? What is GFO?

[Triggerman]

GFO-granular ferric oxide is basically an effective phosphate remover.

[Koaboy]

You can use a canister as long as you perform 10% water changes at least weekly. I have a 60-gallon reef tank (with HOB skimmer) that will prove my point to any naysayers. If you don't think you can keep up with maintenance, and still want a canister, then use the canister without any filtration (like mentioned earlier, use it as a reactor).

[EpicWin]

It can be done no problem. Change out the sandbed yearly, keep a low bio load and u will have a rocking tank.