Torn - Mechanical filtration between my fuge and return pump?

[jgvergo]

My system has been running almost a full year. I built my sump and it is a fairly standard design. The first chamber has a filter sock and skimmer. The middle is a refugium. The third chamber holds my return pump. Between the refugium and the return pump are some baffles where I have some mechanical filtration made out of filter media (medium coarseness).

While performing my weekly cleaning of the filter media, I discovered a living amphipod caught in the media!! I had introduced them to my refugium months ago and just figured they never survived. I carefully inspected my live rock in the fuge and it is LOADED with amphipods. YEAH!

My dilemma is whether I should keep the mechanical filtration or not. I really like the idea of the pods occasionally making their way to the DT, but I also like the mechanical filtration to catch other crud (e.g. chaeto, calupera, xenia) before it gets to my pump and into the DT.

Thoughts?

 

[cnseekatz]

I say take it out. Half the benefit of having a refugium is the continuous supply of pods, larvae, etc. that flow into your tank and feed your fish and corals.

My sump chambers (1-3) are laid out the same way. I would prefer to have dirty water go directly into my fuge, and exit directly back into the display without any sort of interference, but that's just not in the cards for me. With your setup, I say try to do as much of the mechanical filtration before the water gets to the fuge. If you're finding that the water going into the fuge is "too clean" then you can always tap off a secondary feed line from your main drain directly into the fuge, but I doubt that'll be necessary.

I had a fuge FULL of xenia and never had any migrate back into the display, ever. So you don't really need a filter for that. If you have problems with chaeto or other macros breaking off and getting sucked up into return pump, try putting them in their own little mesh bag. You can buy clear flexible screen material and make a pouch, or build a little cage from egg crate. Just enough to restrain the macro so it doesn't fall apart on you.

 

[jgvergo]

Thanks @cnseekatz. That's really good to know about the Xenia. I figure the macro algae getting into my DT is not too big a risk. I think I'll pull the filter media out.

 

[Ocean Lotion]

Thanks @cnseekatz. That's really good to know about the Xenia. I figure the macro algae getting into my DT is not too big a risk. I think I'll pull the filter media out.

I like keeping my return pump section clean by using the sponge between it and the fuge. If it does not work just put the media back in. Only one way to know for sure, try it.

 

[jlear3]

I'm pretty new to the hobby but I took all the filter media out of my baffles because it seems to collect more stuff than anything, hides it from the CUC. I have one bag of purigen in my overflow but that's it. I did put filter floss in
between my fuge and return when I first buitl it but that was mostly to keep mud and dirt from the mud from getting into my pump