Divide skimmer chamber to make space for refugium?

[s_tempest]

Any thoughts on putting a divider in a skimmer chamber in the sump to create a space for a fuge? I’m setting up a new tank (see my build at https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/waterbox-130-4-tank-build.628958/) and have an approx 17x12 skimmer chamber. I could silicone in a sheet of glass (or egg crate) across the chamber and make a 7x12 refugium downflow from the skimmer, leaving 10x12 for the skimmer.
I know some people have sacrificed the auto top-off chamber for a fuge, but I don’t want to do that. And it looks like there is the space to cut into the skimmer.
Am I missing something I should consider?

 

[Peace River]

Any thoughts on putting a divider in a skimmer chamber in the sump to create a space for a fuge? I’m setting up a new tank (see my build at https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/waterbox-130-4-tank-build.628958/) and have an approx 17x12 skimmer chamber. I could silicone in a sheet of glass (or egg crate) across the chamber and make a 7x12 refugium downflow from the skimmer, leaving 10x12 for the skimmer.
I know some people have sacrificed the auto top-off chamber for a fuge, but I don’t want to do that. And it looks like there is the space to cut into the skimmer.
Am I missing something I should consider?

If you have room then that sounds like a reasonable modification. I also agree that putting the fuge downstream is the better choice. Remember that at the basic level, a sump is a glass box for you to put stuff in that you don't want in your display tank. Let us know how it goes if you decide to move forward with that project!

#sump #sumps #filtration

 

[SirRoot]

Any thoughts on putting a divider in a skimmer chamber in the sump to create a space for a fuge? I’m setting up a new tank (see my build at https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/waterbox-130-4-tank-build.628958/) and have an approx 17x12 skimmer chamber. I could silicone in a sheet of glass (or egg crate) across the chamber and make a 7x12 refugium downflow from the skimmer, leaving 10x12 for the skimmer.
I know some people have sacrificed the auto top-off chamber for a fuge, but I don’t want to do that. And it looks like there is the space to cut into the skimmer.
Am I missing something I should consider?

Did you ever end up doing this? I want to attempt something similar on my Marine 60.2.

 

[s_tempest]

I did.
I used silicone to fix a plate of glass across the skimmer chamber leaving a 1” gap at the bottom. There‘s just enough room in the front/upstream side for the skimmer. There’s some live rock, my heater and eventually some chaeto in the back chamber. When I run the light I put over the back chamber I get some film algae on the side of the skimmer closest to the light, so be aware of that.
if I did it again I would cut the plate a bit taller. As I did it, the top sits even with the baffle going to the return pump chamber. Since I’m running my sump a bit full, a lot of water just goes over the plate.
good luck! Are you going to do a build thread?

 

[Scrap_Life]

I did.
I used silicone to fix a plate of glass across the skimmer chamber leaving a 1” gap at the bottom. There‘s just enough room in the front/upstream side for the skimmer. There’s some live rock, my heater and eventually some chaeto in the back chamber. When I run the light I put over the back chamber I get some film algae on the side of the skimmer closest to the light, so be aware of that.
if I did it again I would cut the plate a bit taller. As I did it, the top sits even with the baffle going to the return pump chamber. Since I’m running my sump a bit full, a lot of water just goes over the plate.
good luck! Are you going to do a build thread?

Can I see some pics, I’m thinking of doing the same