Sump sections, and what to put in them.

[virtual reality]

It's hard for me to decide on what I will put in my sump sections. I will have 3 + 1 for return.
I have read about Refuge, DSB, ATS. I just have no clue on what I should have. So, I guess I am asking
for what you have in yours, and why you chose it? If you have time, let me know.

 

[rkpetersen]

A refugium with chaeto and proper light over one of chambers will do a lot to keep your nitrate and phosphate under control naturally. You should have a properly sized protein skimmer in another section. If there's still room, consider a multipurpose reactor that you can run activated carbon and/or other media either continuously or just when you need to. Many people also add high surface area material such as Marine Pure blocks or Siporax rings to the sump in order to further help reduce nutrient levels.

 

[cvrle1]

Usual breakdown:

Section 1: Drain from tank and filter socks, or equivalent
Section 2: Protein skimmer
Section 3: Refugium
Section 4: Return

 

[theatrus]

All of the advice so far is good. Some general insight into "why":

- Skimmers work best using the dirtiest water you have. They are also the most sensitive to water level changes. They also have an input pump which should not suck up gobs of algae or the like. The water level constraint rules out the return section (since it varies in height, even if you have an auto-top-off). The chaeto can clog pump intakes, so its not ideal in the refugium, which leaves the drain section or right after.
- The regugium also likes dirty water, as bits of food and such can feed quite large pod populations. Some people don't like cleaning out the refugium as much, and place it after the skimmer and mechanical filtration. I personally have a T split drain which feeds both a skimmer and a refugium directly from the drain plumbing, and feeds to a center return area.

The skimmer needing stable water level is by far the most critical. I'd also use this area for heaters (do not want those going dry ever).

 

[jtl]

Personally, I like no more than 3 sections. Refugium, Skimmer and Return.

 

[virtual reality]

Thanks everyone so far. It does help. I just got a used skimmer. It has no pump though. I have to figure out what pump I need when I get closer to setting up. Trying to go slow, to get it right.

 

[lapin]

I have a 4 chamber sump separate tank for fuge and external skimmer
On my old tank I had a 3 chamber sump.
1) intake and skimmer
2) fuge with sand and rock and what ever grew with a light
3) return with reactors, probes ect...

 

[cvrle1]

Thanks everyone so far. It does help. I just got a used skimmer. It has no pump though. I have to figure out what pump I need when I get closer to setting up. Trying to go slow, to get it right.

Which skimmer did you get? A lot of options out there for pumps.

 

[virtual reality]

It's an older Euro reef skimmer.