sump/fuge. quick question

cwilson · 01/27/2008, 03:29 PM

so im setting up a 40B with a 20H sump/fuge, adn ive got (what i hope is) an easy question:

wouldnt it be best to have the tank drain into the fuge and then go into the sump with the heaters/skimmer/return pump, instead of having the water run through the skimmer and all that and then go to the fuge?

any advice/tipe/experiences would be appreciated. thanks!

kgross · 01/27/2008, 08:27 PM

Good question. You will get many opinions on this. Personally I would say go to the skimmer first and then go to the fuge, just so that more critters make it through the skimmer pump and back into the main tank. But at the same time, many people suggest fuge first, just so that the skimmer can not pull all of the nutrients the fuge needs out of the water. So to be honest I would say it is your choice skimmer first, puts priority on pods making to the main tank, fuge first puts priority on fuge growing fast.

Kim

seagirl · 01/27/2008, 10:20 PM

i like skimmer first

kgross · 01/27/2008, 10:28 PM

I forgot the add another plus to skimmer first, is that you have less bubble problems the algae in the fuge works great as a bubble trap.

Kim

sjm817 · 01/27/2008, 10:41 PM

Fuge first will cause a lot of detritus buildup and the fuge will become a mess. Sump/skimmer first, then fuge.

cwilson · 01/28/2008, 08:32 AM

well it seems like most people are saying to put the skimmer first, so thats prob what ill do. that will work nicely because with my skimmer pump being off to thee side of the skimmer (ASM G-1X) that will leav a nice little corner open to have the down pipe from the overflow feeding into the sump.

but that leads me to another question.....

what about my return pump?

i was planning on using an inline pump (prob a MAG7) and just drilling out a hole on the side of the 20 and just throwing on a plastic grate and having that feed directly into the return line. but wouldnt that casue WAY too much flow in the fuge and just suck averything up?

OR should i just have the return in with the skimmer as well, and have the water spill over my deviding wall into the fuge (orignal design), and just have a small powerheard (Maxijet600 or somehting similar) to pump water back into the sump, so that there is little flow and relatively still water in the fuge?

hopefully im making sense. if not i can always include drawings, but that may take a day or two..

thanks for all the advice so far! youve all been very helpful

kgross · 01/28/2008, 09:08 AM

500 gph should not be to much flow for the fuge. Keep your return off of the fuge section just so you don't have to have that extra pump in the sump.

Kim

purdeyhouse · 01/28/2008, 07:00 PM

I split the over flow so that half goes to the refugium and half goes to the sump where the heaters, skimmer and return pump is.

01/27/2008, 03:29 PM	#1
cwilson Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 523	sump/fuge. quick question so im setting up a 40B with a 20H sump/fuge, adn ive got (what i hope is) an easy question: wouldnt it be best to have the tank drain into the fuge and then go into the sump with the heaters/skimmer/return pump, instead of having the water run through the skimmer and all that and then go to the fuge? any advice/tipe/experiences would be appreciated. thanks!

01/27/2008, 08:27 PM	#2
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Good question. You will get many opinions on this. Personally I would say go to the skimmer first and then go to the fuge, just so that more critters make it through the skimmer pump and back into the main tank. But at the same time, many people suggest fuge first, just so that the skimmer can not pull all of the nutrients the fuge needs out of the water. So to be honest I would say it is your choice skimmer first, puts priority on pods making to the main tank, fuge first puts priority on fuge growing fast. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

01/27/2008, 10:28 PM	#4
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	I forgot the add another plus to skimmer first, is that you have less bubble problems the algae in the fuge works great as a bubble trap. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

01/27/2008, 10:41 PM	#5
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Fuge first will cause a lot of detritus buildup and the fuge will become a mess. Sump/skimmer first, then fuge. __________________ - Scott

01/28/2008, 09:08 AM	#7
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	500 gph should not be to much flow for the fuge. Keep your return off of the fuge section just so you don't have to have that extra pump in the sump. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

01/27/2008, 10:20 PM	#3
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	i like skimmer first

01/28/2008, 08:32 AM	#6
cwilson Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 523	well it seems like most people are saying to put the skimmer first, so thats prob what ill do. that will work nicely because with my skimmer pump being off to thee side of the skimmer (ASM G-1X) that will leav a nice little corner open to have the down pipe from the overflow feeding into the sump. but that leads me to another question..... what about my return pump? i was planning on using an inline pump (prob a MAG7) and just drilling out a hole on the side of the 20 and just throwing on a plastic grate and having that feed directly into the return line. but wouldnt that casue WAY too much flow in the fuge and just suck averything up? OR should i just have the return in with the skimmer as well, and have the water spill over my deviding wall into the fuge (orignal design), and just have a small powerheard (Maxijet600 or somehting similar) to pump water back into the sump, so that there is little flow and relatively still water in the fuge? hopefully im making sense. if not i can always include drawings, but that may take a day or two.. thanks for all the advice so far! youve all been very helpful

01/28/2008, 07:00 PM	#8
purdeyhouse Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 14	I split the over flow so that half goes to the refugium and half goes to the sump where the heaters, skimmer and return pump is.