Do I really need a sump? newbee question

[MIO]

a newb question

I have two reef tanks runnig well

1 60 gallon acyrilic 4 months running and
1 29 gallon glass 12 days running

I was wondering if I absoultly need a sump and what exactly it would do. I have skimmers on both tanks.

Thanks

 

[Len]

A sump isn't necessary. It's just a nice place to put all your equipment (skimmer, heater, pumps, etc.) and allows for some equipment that would be hard to implement without a sump (e.g. calcium reactor, probes for testing, bigger skimmers, etc.). It also increases water volume and it helps keep water level steady in the main tank (evaporation will affect the sump's water level, not the main tank's). That said, a tank can definitely be very successful without a sump.

 

[MIO]

Thanks for the insight Len.

 

[Ben1]

It will also hapl keep your tank cooler by increasing evaporation and surface area. I ran a sumpless 75/55/29/20 ect.. all with no problem. One thing you never need to worry about witha sump tho is surface slicks or a place to run carbon when you want to.