Sump

[MaineSalt]

Does it matter what order I set my home made sump in? As in where I put the refugium compared to the protein skimmer? Or where I put the heater?


Thanks

 

[mr_X]

I would not want the refugium to be before the intake and protein skimmer.
I would want the intake with heater and skimmer, refugium, bubble trap, then return.

 

[MaineSalt]

So first chamber has intake, heater, and protein skimmer, second chamber refugium (do you use a growing light in it?) and the last chamber just pumps the water back to the tank?

I see a lot of sumps with bio balls or ceramic. Do you use any type of filter or charcoal?

 

[mr_X]

Yes, that's correct. You can put your auto top off in the last section, and yes, you will need a light over the refugium if you expect to grow macro algae in it.
You can put some live rock under the algae in the refugium, but I wouldn't use bio balls or any other type of media. You could use charcoal, but I would want that in a reactor so that water was forced through it, and not sitting in a bag with water floating by it. It's much more effective that way. I would also consider a filter sock in the first section. Something that can be easily changed out and will catch large particulate matter.

 

[Fltekdiver]

Mine is a 40 gallon breeder. Under my 120DT

On one side. I have the intake , heaters, skimmer, middle chamber return pump, last chamber refugium , with a valve that T's off my return pump, so I can control the flow through the refugium. I see half a dozen one way. Half a dozen the other . Personal preference

 

[Badgers reef]

Heres a few pics of mine the dt pic is a few months old