Large refugium or large skimmer

[mccune]

I have been running my Cadlights 50 long with sump for a year now. I am planning on plumbing in a 30 gallon shallow tank as well. While planning this upgrade I am debating upgrading to a larger skimmer or plumbing in a biocube 29 or 55 gallon tank as a refugium. I don’t know what is going to give me the best filtration.
Right now I’m running an eshopps 120x for a skimmer and more live rock in the sump.

The Cadlights 50 will be a SPS dominated system

The shallow tank will be a zoa and lps tank.

Let me know what you think or you are currently running on your system.

For a larger skimmer I have a Reef Octupus Elite 200 sss which I could use but may be way overkill.

 

[Katrina71]

Fuge! Jmo

 

[MaiReef]

IMHO your Eshopps skimmer is plenty big even for a heavy load for a 50 gallon so adding the 30 would be okay, but I like a nice balance with a fug and skimmer. However, I run a Curve 5 and have a 12x12 refugium in a 30 gallon tank for a 100 gallon display.

 

[Swoody]

Y

I have been running my Cadlights 50 long with sump for a year now. I am planning on plumbing in a 30 gallon shallow tank as well. While planning this upgrade I am debating upgrading to a larger skimmer or plumbing in a biocube 29 or 55 gallon tank as a refugium. I don’t know what is going to give me the best filtration.
Right now I’m running an eshopps 120x for a skimmer and more live rock in the sump.

The Cadlights 50 will be a SPS dominated system

The shallow tank will be a zoa and lps tank.

Let me know what you think or you are currently running on your system.

For a larger skimmer I have a Reef Octupus Elite 200 sss which I could use but may be way overkill.

You can still use that skimmer and it would be perfect...just put it on a timer and you are good to go!

 

[mccune]

Would I be better off with a 55 gallon fuge or an old biocube that has the false wall cut out

 

[Katrina71]

I'd do the cube if it were mine.

 

[MaiReef]

Would I be better off with a 55 gallon fuge or an old biocube that has the false wall cut out

a 55 gallon used only for a refugium would work really well for your drain, skimmer, refugium and return pump, but I would glue in baffles with sections and a bubble trap.

 

[Smarkow]

Big Fuges provide a ton of stability. In expert studies, skimmers do not export a ton of "nutrients" (see advanced aquarist 2010 articles below).

"The bottom line, however, is that the skimmate liquid contains mostly the common inorganic ions that constitute the major ions in seawater. Only a small amount of this material can be arguably assigned to dissolved organic carbon, DOC." https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature
Additionally, there is virtually no nitrate or phosphate in the Skimmate (as stated elsewhere in the article).

"None of the skimmers tested removed more than 35% of the extant TOC, leading to the conclusion that bubbles are really not a very effective medium for organic nutrient removal." https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

I have been running 2 years without skimmer using a 75 gallon under display fuge with 2x kessil h380's. I think the role of a skimmer should be in a space limited tank, or for gas exchange or ozone injection (I don't run ozone either), alternatively someone running zeovit or biopellets who wants to export bacteria may have need for a skimmer? A bag of carbon for water clarity is likely superior to skimming.

Good luck

 

[Katrina71]

@Smarkow +1