goodbye sump means hello surface scum and poor aeration.....

Is it broken? Cause if not, don't fix it! :lol:

I don't see any benefit to come from removing the sump, so if it's already got one running it makes no sense to remove. I think you need another hobby Mike, before this one starts taking hits resulting from your boredom.

IMO its like a bit like a wife. It might seem like a good idea to have one less thing to look after but after a while things will gets messy and expensive without her. I mean it. The sump.

So my 20g sps tank is doomed?

I,m guessing he,s thinking of it because his tank has a very nice rear sump, that works very well as another poster mentioned.

Not like it would have no sump. If I could afford and had the room for a similar tank after my move, you could be guaranteed I would run it with the designed rear sump.

Although his set up with the sump already, is pretty nice I must admit.

Not the case. With the overflow feeding the back chambers I have excellent surface skimming and with the two return pumps no problem with aeration. I've been running it quite happily for 2 years now..

From looking at Mikes, it looks like a great design, {the tank and rear sump}. As I said, if a bit less money I would look at one for my new place in Kamloops, instead of my 35g cube with a sump.

I would guess WF means in general with no sump? Must admit I have seen exactly that before in newer aquarists aquariums with no sumps. However I have no such problems in my 20g with the large power filter and MP 20 churning things up and no skimmer.

not having a could be one of many variables resulting in such a small tank not being ideally suited for the long term success of sps corals in such a small system. there are many others...i don't know many who enter successfully maintain sps without a sump long term, but that is only me. if you get into sps you usually have a sump...just sayin

there are alternatives, as you mentioned, but tough to ague with the MANY other benefits a sump offers, that is why most reef hobbyists eventually incorporate them

So I need another hobby from my boredom boredom why would you say that cause I'm trying different things or may be that i like the change in seeing if its better the other way:hand:

Post some pictures! Both full tank/stand and the sump...or just the sump.

There always ways to tweek/modify a system when you get into that phase. Been there done that many times.....since the 90's!