sump question

[PCygni]

Hi All. New to the hobby and have been spending a considerable amount of time researching sump/refugiums -- but they still confound me. I'm looking at a 3 chamber Trigger Systems sump/fuge. My question is in regard to the first chamber where the drain enters the sump and I plan to set up my protein skimmer. Should the water coming out of my skimmer re-enter the first chamber and flow over the baffle into the refugium? or should I make it so that water goes directly into the fuge? It seems like returning the water to the first chamber would allow some water to go over the baffle un-skimmed. I hope this makes sense -- having a difficult time articulating my question. Thanks.

 

[robbrouse]

I've seen some have there skimmer in the same section as the return pump. This is so the water hitting you fuge is not skimmed. Some people say it's works better. Me mine is in my drain. There some many good designs you need to decide what works best for you and what you want to go. Good luck.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

I have a trigger 3 chamber sump like you are looking at. You can put the skimmer in the first chamber. It will be fine. Yes some of the water will go over unskimmed, but that is fine. I run my skimmer in the second chamber because it is too big to fit in the first chamber. I wish I could put my skimmer in the first chamber like you.
Have fun reefing!

 

[Deinonych]

I have a trigger 3 chamber sump like you are looking at. You can put the skimmer in the first chamber. It will be fine. Yes some of the water will go over unskimmed, but that is fine. I run my skimmer in the second chamber because it is too big to fit in the first chamber. I wish I could put my skimmer in the first chamber like you.
Have fun reefing!

+1

I have the Trigger Systems 36g sump and use my skimmer in the first chamber with no problems. Your skimmer is never going to be able to skim all the water the first time through. Just keep good flow through the sump and you'll be fine.

 

[PCygni]

+1

I have the Trigger Systems 36g sump and use my skimmer in the first chamber with no problems. Your skimmer is never going to be able to skim all the water the first time through. Just keep good flow through the sump and you'll be fine.

So just to clarify: the water coming out of your skimmer goes back into the first chamber?

 

[Deinonych]

So just to clarify: the water coming out of your skimmer goes back into the first chamber?

Correct.

 

[twelvefive]

It's not a huge deal to run it that way, the skimmer isn't going to process 100% of the water in your sump at any given moment, it just pulls what it can when it can (if that makes sense).