Sump Help

[sundog101]

I need some opinions on designing my 40 breeder sump. Due to supports and an odd stand design the skimmer will not fit in the first chamber. My two options are:

Make a large first chamber as the fuge and place the skimmer in the second section.

Or just use an external skimmer. I know most of the good external skimmers pretty expensive. I'm looking at the reef octopus classic externals.

The fuge is going to be used for mainly pods/micro fauna so I would like to avoid placing the skimmer after the fuge if possible. But if that's how it has to be I guess it's ok. I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks for the help!

 

[Joeganja]

How big is your tank? Just purchased the aquamaxx hang on the back skimmer because it's supposedly the highest rated skimmer out there. It's rated for tanks up to 75 gallons. But if your tank is bigger they have an aquamaxx hang on the back skimmer rated for 175 gallons. I recommend that brand or reef octopus. Have skimmers from both companies and they are well built. Both of them are external. The reef octopus is a recirculating skimmer not hang on the back Also I don't recommended a fudge in the first chamber if there's going to be a lot of flow. You want a fuge with minimal flow to allow macro algae to grow and a breeding ground for amphipods and Copepods.