protien skimmer in a refugium sump

[Mackman]

Hey guys!
One quick question for you experts out there.
I am going to build my own acrylic refugium and use kent mud, my questions is should i have the skimmer set up Before or after the water passes over the mud area? i was thinking before as to keep the work a little lower and to increase the Oxygen to the plant life.

Thanks for your help! and when i am done making the sump ill try and find out how to place some pics of it for ya all.

Mack

[RazerCorals]

I would go before.

[matrixnyc]

From what I have ready, you skimmer placement can go before or after the mud area. I would think that it would be better to have the skimmer after the mud.

Have you also looked at : http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/ecosystemMethod.html

The ecosystem does not require a protein skimmer, and you may be able to create your refugium with some of the features they have in their setups.

Cant wait to see pics of the refugium you build.

Also did you check www.wetdryfilters.com they have ready made refugiums on sale, and I think Reeflounge.com members get a discount.

Either way good luck

[matrixnyc]

Also , I just read:

The lack of protein skimming may*also allow for plankton to develop within the tank, which may help to feed the*corals.

Just some more info.

[reefrunner]

I would put the skimmer before the refuge part of the sump, simply because you won't be skiming out the pods and critters and larvae your trying to encourage with the fuge.

[RazerCorals]

I wouldn't worry about skimming the plankton out. They are easily replaced by feeding the tank. It is more benefical IMO to have a skimmer.

[Christian]

I would put the skimmer before for one simple reason: The skimmer could draw water from the first chamber of the sump (where water is entering before bio-chamber) and return the water into the refugium part of the sump. This keeps all the skimmer plumbing hidden (ie. no return going up to the tank) and, more importantly, once the water gets skimmed, it returns to the tank and doesn't end up going thru the skimmer again until it circulates thru the tank.

If you put the skimmer after the sump, you could plumb this two ways:
1) Take water from sump and dump it back into the sump, which means some of the same water enters the skimmer, or
2) Return the water from the skimmer back to the tank directly, leading to more visible plumbing and return inside the tank.

I'm assuming when you say 'before' or 'after' the sump you mean the water is flowing unidirectionally, to which the above statements would apply.

Christian Schwalm
SkyLab
www.wetdryfilter.com

[Mackman]

Thanks guys.

i am building it myself so i can make room for in inside the sump where ever i want to, but i feel i will do it before from what ive read and hear. i plan on using a skimmer with the mud even tho they say its not required, i feel having a little allways helps. i can allways turn it off if needed.
Thanks again guys and i will get some pics asap

Mack

[RazerCorals]

YAY

[Zack]

Got any skimmer plans?