Need some advice on sumps

[treesmoker]

I'm gonna upgrade my sump and was thinking about doing a refugium instead of running my euroreef skimmer. What do you guys think???

 

[clayspst]

run both

 

[TikiDan]

I agree, run both

 

[treesmoker]

let me rephrase....if it was one or the other.......which would do the most?

 

[crispyreef]

I think the skimmer is more effective.

 

[sulcata1619]

skimmer is way more effective. Run both. We just fixed your nitrate problem, you can't shut your skimmer down on me.

 

[jtarmitage]

I agree that the skimmer is the most important. If space is an issue, just get a hang on for the fuge. On my 60, I only had about a 5"x9" section of the sump dedicated to growing cheato, and it had a great impact on my water quality, even in such a small section. But, when the skimmer had issues, even with the cheato, the water quality suffered.

 

[treesmoker]

jeremy- james told me that in order for a fuge to be effective, it's needs to be at least a third of the volume of the main tank. I'd love to run both, but space is the main issue.

 

[jtarmitage]

Sure, that's ideal. I'm just saying that I noticed a benefit even from a very small package. The growth of the macro algae is removing nutrients from the system, so in a small fuge, you need to be sure to trim back the macro more frequently so that it continues to grow. I do totally agree that the larger the fuge, the more the benefit though.
Have you considered using something like the Deltec MCE 600 HOB skimmer and running a fuge? That way you could have both, and with a 56g tank, it will be plenty of skimmer.

 

[TikiDan]

or if you go that route, build a hang on back fuge that will run the length of your tank and have it gravity feed back to your tank so the pods make it back into your tank for food.

 

[islandcreation]

Build a bigger stand then you'll have more room to work with.