Help Choosing a Refugium & Skimmer..

DJ Monty · Sep 21, 2016

I'm totally new into this with a lot to learn so be gentle

. I'm setting up a 220g & have decided to put the refugium in the room behind the tank.. Knocking through is no problem but I need help choosing a refugium. There seems to be lots of different ones out there & it's even been suggested I have one custom built. Problem is when they ask what I need in it I don't know how to answer.. I can fit one up to 48" .. I also need a skimmer, same again there seems to be so many out there so how do I choose ?? Can anyone help...

ndrwater · Sep 21, 2016

I am no refugium expert by any means, but I have heard many a time, for a refugium to be effective at nutrient export, it needs to be as large as possible. Somebody way smarter than me can give you specifics. My first gut reaction though is; if you have room for a 48" fuge, then get a 48" fuge.
Skimmers are a bit different. Many manufacturers advertise a "max total volume" or something to the same effect. In my experience, those numbers are often inflated. Depending on your end goal, ie SPS, LPS, mixed, whatever, I would still suggest you oversize to a point. There are many good companies making quality skimmers out there, and a few making ....... Well...... Crap.
I won't name bad ones, but a few tried and true companies are ATB, Bubble King, Vertex, and Super Reef Octopus to name a few... Just a heads up, there are massive price variances even between the brands I mentioned.. Get a good one, and hopefully you won't have to upgrade any time soon...

DJ Monty · Sep 21, 2016

Many thanks for that.. I'm trying to get it right from the start but it's not too easy.. Thanks for the help..

ndrwater · Sep 21, 2016

I can give you a skimmer example from 1st hand experience. My tank is a standard 240 gallon, with a 100 gallon sump. Total water volume +/- 280 gallons. I chose the SRO5000 INT. A quick check to BRS, and they rate that skimmer to 450 gallons, RO rates to 500 gallons. I have been been happy with the performance. It should also be noted that my RO is probably the cheapest of the brands I mentioned above. At $600 it's not cheap, but compare that to a comparable Bubble King and you are looking way north of $1500. Choose well, read reviews, ask questions, and whenever possible take a look at someybody's system running with one you are considering.

skim · Sep 21, 2016

Either of these would be a good choice.

Baby Ray · Sep 21, 2016

In my opinion. Reef Octopus is the best skimmer out there

aaronn · Sep 21, 2016

I custom ordered my sump from trigger systems. They have a lot of good options and are reasonably priced.

tvu · Sep 21, 2016

Take a look at the Aquamaxx
Skimmers. Marine depot had a 25% sale on them. I have 3 diff models of them. Had RO, aquaC and many more in the past. I'm sold on Aquamaxx

SR Aquaristik · Sep 21, 2016

Take a look at our skimmers Great skimmers at a great price!

https://sraquaristik.com/product/pro-skim-400-in-sump-protein-skimmer/

DJ Monty · Sep 22, 2016

Thanks for the help everyone, very much appreciated..

GR808 · Sep 23, 2016

I have a 125g tank and run an SWC 160 cone and I love it. Runs great and quiet and keeps the tank really really clean. For me, by far the best filtration for your tank is a great skimmer.
When deciding on your sump you'll need to decide how many compartments and whether you'd want a DSB in one compartment, skimmer in another or even running chaeto algae in one of those compartments. My sump has the first compartment with the skimmer center compartment with my return pump and a compartment with a slipstream of my tank water for chaeto. I should have just ran from skimmer to chaeto then to last compartment for the return to tank.