i plan on building my own sump. this is my first sump, and am doing it to help control nitrates, for the most part. it will also help better prepare me for doing corals as well. currently, im using a canister filter.
so within this design phase, it will be a 20g long with a spot for a skimmer, refugium, and obviously, the return. my plan is to have space to the exit of the refugium for different medias, but on the entry side, other than the skimmer, i have thought about if i should add some sort of filtration, albeit a filter sock or some other type of filter. although i know the purpose of the filter sock, would it really be that beneficial when it comes to a skimmer? in theory, the filter sock will obviously catch larger particles, which will then leave the skimmer to the much smaller stuff, but is it really worth it, to add a pre filter before the skimmer? right now, i am just on a 20gal long DT, but will eventually setup my 65 gal, so i want to try to future proof myself a little bit so that i dont have to do double work later, but at the same time, i dont want to add a filter sock if it isnt really necessary. i understand that it will be useful, but at the same time, it just seems like an additonal thing to clean in addition to the skimmer or other medias within it.
thoughts? suggestions?
so within this design phase, it will be a 20g long with a spot for a skimmer, refugium, and obviously, the return. my plan is to have space to the exit of the refugium for different medias, but on the entry side, other than the skimmer, i have thought about if i should add some sort of filtration, albeit a filter sock or some other type of filter. although i know the purpose of the filter sock, would it really be that beneficial when it comes to a skimmer? in theory, the filter sock will obviously catch larger particles, which will then leave the skimmer to the much smaller stuff, but is it really worth it, to add a pre filter before the skimmer? right now, i am just on a 20gal long DT, but will eventually setup my 65 gal, so i want to try to future proof myself a little bit so that i dont have to do double work later, but at the same time, i dont want to add a filter sock if it isnt really necessary. i understand that it will be useful, but at the same time, it just seems like an additonal thing to clean in addition to the skimmer or other medias within it.
thoughts? suggestions?