Proper Order of Compartments In A Sump

[Dom]

I just purchased a 40 Gallon Long which I intend to set up as a sump. I'm getting mixed information regarding order of the compartments.

This sump will include a refugium. The question is this: Where is the best location in terms of the compartment order.

Obviously, the return chamber is last. I'm thinking:

1. Input chamber.
2. Mechanical filtration chamber.
3. Live Rock Chamber
4. Protein Skimmer Chamber.
5. Refugium Chamber.
6. Return Chamber.

Opinions?

 

[CarrieB]

Actually my return chamber is in the middle but I have two overflows. One empties into the skimmer chamber on the left and one empties into the live rock chamber on the right. If I ever turn it into a real refugium, I don't want the skimmer taking the nutrients first.

 

[Dom]

If I ever turn it into a real refugium, I don't want the skimmer taking the nutrients first.

Protein skimmers remove fish waste. Do they remove nutrients too? Never heard that. I thought that if I put the protein skimmer before the refugium, I'd be okay.

 

[CarrieB]

Protein skimmers remove fish waste. Do they remove nutrients too? Never heard that. I thought that if I put the protein skimmer before the refugium, I'd be okay.

Fish waste = fertilizer, just like horse waste or cow waste. Circle of life and all that.

 

[Dom]

Fish waste = fertilizer, just like horse waste or cow waste. Circle of life and all that.

Yes; good point. I hadn't looked at it that way.