Proper water flow direction in the sump/refug?

[Ms. Mermaid]

Ok question of the day what is the proper water flow direction in the sump/refug???

I have been looking at some sumps and has me thinking that question....
Ok one sump has the drain section, skimmer section, refug section and then last is the return section

Then another sump I was looking at has the skimmer and refug section switched around.
Drain section, refug section, skimmer section then the return section....

So which is the better of the two design flows?

 

[P-Dub]

Both methods have their strengths and weaknesses. There are actually even more choices than the two you propose. With that said, my personal preference is to have the protein skimmer as far from the return pump as possible for microbubble management. Other than that it's semantics, so to speak. Others will have their opinions and will defend the benefits of whatever they choose. Flip a coin. Run a poll. Find the consensus and then go with whatever you think benefits your system design.

 

[theMeat]

Triton method want fuge first, then skimmer.
Ime skimmer first is best

Triton is built around fuge growth uptaking nutrients.
Skimmer first takes proteins right out of the equation before they break down

 

[Ms. Mermaid]

Triton method want fuge first, then skimmer.
Ime skimmer first is best

Triton is built around fuge growth uptaking nutrients.
Skimmer first takes proteins right out of the equation before they break down

Is proteins bad or good?

 

[P-Dub]

Triton method want fuge first, then skimmer.
Ime skimmer first is best

Triton is built around fuge growth uptaking nutrients.
Skimmer first takes proteins right out of the equation before they break down

True, but, I doubt there is a skimmer on the market that is skimming all the organic compounds out before reaching the fuge. Some certainly but not all. That would be an interesting test to run, though.

 

[mcarroll]

Ok question of the day what is the proper water flow direction in the sump/refug???

Down from the drains and up to the tank is correct. Don't get it backwards!

(In seriousness, I'd suggest skipping the divided sump and using a completely open tank. No limits on what goes where.)

 

[Hitman]

Down from the drains and up to the tank is correct. Don't get it backwards!

(In seriousness, I'd suggest skipping the divided sump and using a completely open tank. No limits on what goes where.)

So how do you keep your macro algae ( Cheato) out of your pumps?

 

[theMeat]

Is proteins bad or good?

Some, good

Too much, bad

 

[theMeat]

True, but, I doubt there is a skimmer on the market that is skimming all the organic compounds out before reaching the fuge. Some certainly but not all. That would be an interesting test to run, though.

True.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have return pump gph, and how much skimmer can process gph around the same. It won’t get it all, but...

Also think skimmer first just makes more sense. Let skimmer have first chance at dirtiest water. Allow pods to exit fuge and return to tank without having to pass skimmer

 

[mcarroll]

So how do you keep your macro algae ( Cheato) out of your pumps?

You can build a wall at the end of the sump to create a refugium space...or create a separate tank for it...or run it in a lighted reactor – it's only semi-related to sump-function, so do it however makes sense to your install. I'd still have the rest of the sump open vs having the typical array of baffles and chambers. (At least so far I don't run macro algae though.)

 

[theMeat]

No makie sense

Then some of the water goes through the skimmer multiple times, and some goes straight back to tank for nothing

 

[Hitman]

You can build a wall at the end of the sump to create a refugium space...or create a separate tank for it...or run it in a lighted reactor – it's only semi-related to sump-function, so do it however makes sense to your install. I'd still have the rest of the sump open vs having the typical array of baffles and chambers. (At least so far I don't run macro algae though.)

Thanks for your reply as I’m looking to build a new sump out of a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank and trying to figure the layout

 

[theMeat]

Thanks for your reply as I’m looking to build a new sump out of a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank and trying to figure the layout

If you’re looking to go Rubbermaid route you’re better off going with separate tubs. One for skimmer, so you can set level/ overflow into another for fuge, then lastly return. This way you can go big on fuge, and small on return area so auto top off works better/easier

And this way all water that is sent to sump/filter passes each process as intended, and each area’s level , flow and design to maximize effect/exposure

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Right to left, left to right, front to back, skimmer first, fuge first... it really does not matter much either way. Sometimes your stand or space for the sump will dictate how it is layed out, other times is how the sump is built or the amount of space you need for equipment. That said I like my skimmer to be in the first section getting all the dirty water first and containing all the bubbles, then fuge and last return.

 

[Ms. Mermaid]

True.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have return pump gph, and how much skimmer can process gph around the same. It won’t get it all, but...

Also think skimmer first just makes more sense. Let skimmer have first chance at dirtiest water. Allow pods to exit fuge and return to tank without having to pass skimmer

Wow now you got me re-thinking my current skimmer that I have probably does come close to matching my return pump.
Skimmer - IceCape K2-200 with a Sicce PSK-1000 pinwheel
Return pump is a Vectra M1....
Pretty sure they don't match in their gph....

 

[P-Dub]

No makie sense

Then some of the water goes through the skimmer multiple times, and some goes straight back to tank for nothing

I had my first sump completely open and it worked well. The amount of water flowing back to the skimmer in a chambered sump to be reskimmed is nominally less than without a baffled sump. It all balances out in the end anyhow.

 

[P-Dub]

You can build a wall at the end of the sump to create a refugium space...or create a separate tank for it...or run it in a lighted reactor – it's only semi-related to sump-function, so do it however makes sense to your install. I'd still have the rest of the sump open vs having the typical array of baffles and chambers. (At least so far I don't run macro algae though.)

I hade and will have a separate fuge as well. Dumps the fuge overflow directly by the return pump intake.