I ran a 90 gal. for a couple of months with no sump. (only had a few fish, softies, and LPS at the time) I used a large canister filter and cleaned it twice a week, along with weekly 20% water changes. It worked fairly well but was a pain in the a$$. A lot of work to keep water parameters decent.
When I finally got the overflow, sump and skimmer installed the tank water was much clearer, (no scum on the surface), and the maintenance is much easier. Fewer water changes; less algae; equipment is easier to get at in the sump; dosing is easier, etc. etc. I would never go sumpless again. Not even for a short period of time. I would rather wait if I had to than set up a tank without a sump.
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