Baffles less solution for sump/skimmer

TxAggie08 · 01/01/2018, 06:44 AM

I inherited a bit of a mess. Got a killer deal on a used 75 gallon 3ft acrylic tank tank with....well with almost everything I need (still need an ato). Only downside, it came with corals and fish I do not want to kill. The whole thing is a bit jumbled, and it had been taken down, was being sustained in tubs, and the tank still needs a bit of work.

I cracked the 40b sump it came with! I'm stuck with a couple of choices atm. I can take the other 40b I have here, remove the old acrylic baffles from the broken sump (which I dislike), and try to get them installed in the new 40b, or I can find a solution to maintain skimmer water height, and run the 40 breeder as a baffles less sump while I decide on either buying a pre-built, or more likely acquire another 40b, and build it out with proper glass baffles. The stand is built quite ingeniously, so removal is not an issue.

My though was to find a plastic/acrylic/glass box with enough room to house my skimmer, and using it to create a skimmer "chamber" sitting in said sump. It would be pump fed(the main return is sufficient to tap and feed it), and short of a power failure would maintain its water level I would think. A simple open sponge or filter sock on the overflow SHOULD eliminate a great deal of the bubble issue.

Any thoughts? I would prefer to get the tank filled to its proper height and running asap, and get the skimmer working properly asap, several of these corals appear to be save able. The sump would be replaced in a few weeks with the right equipment.

Thanks, kyndal

THEUNION1 · 01/01/2018, 07:11 AM

Well, people run filterless systems so having just a skimmer should be fine for a few weeks.

mcgyvr · 01/01/2018, 08:51 AM

yes you can certainly have a successful tank without a skimmer..
I would just take your time and get everything how you would ultimately like it and not take shortcuts you might not be able to reverse later..

Its very easy though to just get something to act as a base to raise the skimmer up for now if you want though... Or just don't worry about it for now while you get a proper sump setup..

TxAggie08 · 01/01/2018, 10:19 AM

Ii was more concerned with my skimmer In a box concept, and if we thought that might work

mcgyvr · 01/01/2018, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxAggie08

Ii was more concerned with my skimmer In a box concept, and if we thought that might work

Not really sure why you would put it into a box vs raising it via a box/shelf in the sump..
But yes you could certainly put it into a box as long as you are getting water in/out of it

TxAggie08 · 01/02/2018, 05:16 AM

My experience in years past has been that fluctuations in water level can cause serious issues with skimmers. This sump has no baffles, so it would not have a constant water level around it. I ended up configuring it as I described above tonight, actually worked very well.

McPuff · 01/04/2018, 08:14 PM

I don't have baffles in my sump and have zero issues with fluctuating water levels. Just make sure to have an ATO installed. I've got the Tunze Osmolator and the water level fluctuates by 1/8" at maximum. The skimmer is highly consistent in performance. You have to also make sure to keep the air line clear of salt to actually achieve this peak performance though (probably an obvious point).

ruiny · 01/05/2018, 03:15 PM

My sump has no baffles.
10 years like this. No problem.

Benar · 01/05/2018, 07:19 PM

The box methods fine, done it before. How about having your drain line(s) fed directly into the box section to save having to pump feed it & the issues that come with that?

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01/01/2018, 06:44 AM	#1
TxAggie08 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: College station texas Posts: 99	Baffles less solution for sump/skimmer I inherited a bit of a mess. Got a killer deal on a used 75 gallon 3ft acrylic tank tank with....well with almost everything I need (still need an ato). Only downside, it came with corals and fish I do not want to kill. The whole thing is a bit jumbled, and it had been taken down, was being sustained in tubs, and the tank still needs a bit of work. I cracked the 40b sump it came with! I'm stuck with a couple of choices atm. I can take the other 40b I have here, remove the old acrylic baffles from the broken sump (which I dislike), and try to get them installed in the new 40b, or I can find a solution to maintain skimmer water height, and run the 40 breeder as a baffles less sump while I decide on either buying a pre-built, or more likely acquire another 40b, and build it out with proper glass baffles. The stand is built quite ingeniously, so removal is not an issue. My though was to find a plastic/acrylic/glass box with enough room to house my skimmer, and using it to create a skimmer "chamber" sitting in said sump. It would be pump fed(the main return is sufficient to tap and feed it), and short of a power failure would maintain its water level I would think. A simple open sponge or filter sock on the overflow SHOULD eliminate a great deal of the bubble issue. Any thoughts? I would prefer to get the tank filled to its proper height and running asap, and get the skimmer working properly asap, several of these corals appear to be save able. The sump would be replaced in a few weeks with the right equipment. Thanks, kyndal

01/01/2018, 08:51 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	yes you can certainly have a successful tank without a skimmer.. I would just take your time and get everything how you would ultimately like it and not take shortcuts you might not be able to reverse later.. Its very easy though to just get something to act as a base to raise the skimmer up for now if you want though... Or just don't worry about it for now while you get a proper sump setup.. __________________ Who me?

01/05/2018, 03:15 PM	#8
ruiny Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 536	My sump has no baffles. 10 years like this. No problem. __________________ Go Sens Go Current Tank Info: 93 mixed reef

01/01/2018, 07:11 AM	#2
THEUNION1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CA Posts: 928	Well, people run filterless systems so having just a skimmer should be fine for a few weeks.

01/01/2018, 10:19 AM	#4
TxAggie08 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: College station texas Posts: 99	Ii was more concerned with my skimmer In a box concept, and if we thought that might work

01/02/2018, 05:16 AM	#6
TxAggie08 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: College station texas Posts: 99	My experience in years past has been that fluctuations in water level can cause serious issues with skimmers. This sump has no baffles, so it would not have a constant water level around it. I ended up configuring it as I described above tonight, actually worked very well.

01/04/2018, 08:14 PM	#7
McPuff Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,735	I don't have baffles in my sump and have zero issues with fluctuating water levels. Just make sure to have an ATO installed. I've got the Tunze Osmolator and the water level fluctuates by 1/8" at maximum. The skimmer is highly consistent in performance. You have to also make sure to keep the air line clear of salt to actually achieve this peak performance though (probably an obvious point).

01/05/2018, 07:19 PM	#9
Benar Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 335	The box methods fine, done it before. How about having your drain line(s) fed directly into the box section to save having to pump feed it & the issues that come with that? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk