What's the best alternative to an external sump?

[Left Coast DJ]

I'm starting a rimless tank. And I'd rather not have an external sump/refugium - due to two kids running around and opening cabinet doors, paranoia of flooding, etc.. So what's a good alternative? Go sumpless and filterless, letting the live rocks do their job. Throw in a Tunze Nano Filter or a SubCurrent to help with the surface gunk? Or even attache one of these to a Maxi-Jet? Or just aim a powerhead towards the surface? Any other suggestions? The tank is 18 gallons.

[Rubicon06]

I had a 20h without a sump and without a refuge, a remora skimmer, couple powerheads, lots of sand and live rock.

 

I didn't have but 2-3 small fish, couple large lps corals/softies, typical CUC, couple shrimp/crabs, and 2 starfish.

 

Only problem I had was flatworms from a mushroom rock I bought, but otherwise it ran fine without the sump/refuge. I bought some of the blue/black slugs to eat them, but they kept getting sucked into powerheads

 

Only death I ever had was a peppermint shrimp that I got from a lfs chain, which wasn't the best place...

 

I ran it for 8 months, before I broke it down to move. But it was also my first SW so I was pretty cautious, waited a long time to add things and added them slowly.

 

Most people I think would recommend the HOB Refuge if you weren't going to do a sump.

[Left Coast DJ]

Any other experiences running a non-AIO without external filtration?

[IceTurf]

Any other experiences running a non-AIO without external filtration?

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t=0&start=0