Sump Depth, Skimmer on Stand?

[JustinFromAL]

Hey folks,

I'm getting ready to build a custom sump out of a 40L. It's a pretty typical setup" Fuge -> Return <- Skimmer. My issue is that my skimmer requires 8" of depth, if I do that and I want to have a fuge of any volume I'm going to have to have a VERY small return area. Like maybe 3-4 gallons. I will be using an Apex for ATO, but that's still such a small volume.

I've thought about just raising the skimmer up 4" and putting it on a stand. This would give me an extra few gallons in the fuge section and more like 7-8 gallons in the return area. The negative to that is that I can see the area underneath the stand becoming a detritus trap since my overflows come into that section.

What is everyone else doing in this scenario? Dealing with the low return volume or just make sure that skimmer area stays clean, maybe putting some LR underneath the stand?

Thanks for your time!
-Justin

 

[fragmatic]

I'd go with the "stand" and plan on that area being one that gets vacuumed out during some water changes. Which is a good idea any how.

Speaking of which I need to do that next water change too.

I do my water changes at the main display reef tank, but sometimes I do them by isolating the sump and vacuuming it empty. Then refill it with the new RODI salt mix. Please realize I can do that because my refugiums are in separate tanks from my sump.

 

[mcarroll]

I like a plain tank as a sump so I don't have these issues. Why complicate things if you don't need to? (I also don't have a refugium - or need for one, thanks to good planning - so YMMV.) Keep it simple!

If you're going the complicated route, more complication is usually "better" than less so I would go with the skimmer stand to maximize the sump's volume. Just remember to account for the "extra" volume needed during a power-down and make sure you can get the skimmer cup off the skimmer and out of the stand easily. (If it's not easy, eventually you'll stop doing it.)

-Matt