Refugium and skimmer in parallel

[Torps]

I’ve seen plenty of posts about before or after for the skimmer, but not a ton about separating the two completely. It could be good to be able to adjust flow independently between the two. There’s one setup where the fuge is separate and fed by the return pump, but just out of principal, I want to know why not do something like pictured. Balancing the two may be tough, but whether it matters or not, it solves the before/after debate.

 

[vpierce3]

I’ve seen this before too. Although I don’t know what the advantage would be. The skimmer doesn’t process 100% of the water that passes through its sump chamber. And if you want to reduce the amount it processes it can be turned down (if DC motor) or put it on a timer.
I do prefer that all of my water passes through the fuge though, where I also keep my bio-media. I can tune my refugium by limiting the lighting period and trimming my chaeto.

 

[Torps]

I’ve seen this before too. Although I don’t know what the advantage would be. The skimmer doesn’t process 100% of the water that passes through its sump chamber. And if you want to reduce the amount it processes it can be turned down (if DC motor) or put it on a timer.
I do prefer that all of my water passes through the fuge though, where I also keep my bio-media. I can tune my refugium by limiting the lighting period and trimming my chaeto.

I’ve read the skimmer presses something like 40% MAX of the water, so that doesn’t matter. No clue about turning it down tho. I’ve interpreted everything I’ve read (no experience yet) to mean the skimmer is an on or off type deal. It has a sweet spot too hot where it works.

I do prefer that all of my water passes through the fuge though, where I also keep my bio-media. I can tune my refugium by limiting the lighting period and trimming my chaeto.

I’ve also read that flow in the fuge (or other, more advanced parts of the sump?) should be lower than the skimmer (or other parts). Not sure why’d that be the case though, unless water is just gushing through an overly small sump. I figure that, since I’m making my own fuge, it’s basically free to add this kind of adjustability to it. The only drawback that I see in my design is that flow thru the bubble traps will be higher since they’re narrower.

 

[exnisstech]

I think you may be making this more complicated that it needs to be but I'm a simple guy. My skimmer is in the first chamber where water comes in to the filter socks. 2nd chamber is fuge and third chamber return with a 4th section on the end a frag tank. Been this way for years. Skimmer works well and fuge it so full of life I hate to harvest the chaeto because I can never get all of the 100 % of the critters out.

 

[SneaksMcdoogle]

I’ve seen plenty of posts about before or after for the skimmer, but not a ton about separating the two completely. It could be good to be able to adjust flow independently between the two. There’s one setup where the fuge is separate and fed by the return pump, but just out of principal, I want to know why not do something like pictured. Balancing the two may be tough, but whether it matters or not, it solves the before/after debate.

Uh unless I’m misunderstood question, and I totally could be.

but doesn’t the eshopps AF-300 fuge sump do exactly that?
It has a separate feed for both and they both return to the same return. Then sent to DT

 

[Torps]

Uh unless I’m misunderstood question, and I totally could be.

but doesn’t the eshopps AF-300 fuge sump do exactly that?
It has a separate feed for both and they both return to the same return. Then sent to DT

You are understanding perfectly. It looks like they have several that perform this function. I'm just wondering why I can hardly find anyone talking about it... especially since they're commercially made.

 

[PeterC99]

Due to space limitations, my skimmer and refugium with chaeto are in the same section of the sump and the aquarium thrives.

 

[SneaksMcdoogle]

You are understanding perfectly. It looks like they have several that perform this function. I'm just wondering why I can hardly find anyone talking about it... especially since they're commercially made.

I see yes I have the old adv on my 225g and I love it, this is the styl I’ll use on all my future tank builds with a sump I tried a standard skim before fuge on my 75g and I don’t care for it, feels like everything is cramped.

 

[vpierce3]

I’ve read the skimmer presses something like 40% MAX of the water, so that doesn’t matter. No clue about turning it down tho. I’ve interpreted everything I’ve read (no experience yet) to mean the skimmer is an on or off type deal. It has a sweet spot too hot where it works.


I’ve also read that flow in the fuge (or other, more advanced parts of the sump?) should be lower than the skimmer (or other parts). Not sure why’d that be the case though, unless water is just gushing through an overly small sump. I figure that, since I’m making my own fuge, it’s basically free to add this kind of adjustability to it. The only drawback that I see in my design is that flow thru the bubble traps will be higher since they’re narrower.

If you have a skimmer with a DC pump, you can adjust the speed of the pump, thus how much water it processes. You can simulate this with a skimmer that has an AC pump by using a timer to control how long it operates, thus how much water is processed daily.

As far as the refugium goes, it’s not how much of the water that passes through it that dictates its efficacy. Its more the amount of macroalgae and how much/long you light it up (photoperiod) that determines the amount of nutrients it takes out.

Someone might know a good reason to let some water bypass the refugium that I’m unaware of, but at this time I see no need or benefit for it.
And if the bypass system takes up room in the sump, it could be a disadvantage.….taking up space needed for more pertinent equipment.

 

[Pistondog]

You are understanding perfectly. It looks like they have several that perform this function. I'm just wondering why I can hardly find anyone talking about it... especially since they're commercially made.

I have an eshoppes sump. Thefuge only gets about 10% of the flow. This makes sense to me as i dont want large flow moving thru it.

 

[vpierce3]

I have an eshoppes sump. Thefuge only gets about 10% of the flow. This makes sense to me as i dont want large flow moving thru it.

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to restrict the flow so much to your fuge?

 

[Pistondog]

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to restrict the flow so much to your fuge?

Good question, thanks for asking.
1. Theres no reason to have full flow thru the fuge, all nutrients are not depleted by macro in one pass.
2. High flow would 'blow' the critters around and out of the refugium. I want them to stay there.
3. Any particulates, sand, mud or detritus would also be more likely to exit to other less desirable areas.

 

[Torps]

How much does flow rate matter for the display? It seems like the fuge could have slow flow (2 tank volumes per day?) and still be plenty functional. Maybe the same for the skimmer. Mechanical filters (sock) seem like the only part that could use tons of flow. Or am I way off?