Order of Operation (not math)

[flasher1]

I just rebuilt my stand so that I have a lot more room available to me. This is going to result in adding a refugium to my current system. Should I put the protein skimmer before or after the refugium?

Would the skimmer remove whatever nutrients the refugium would add?

 

[mrcrab]

I would put the skimmer right at your overflow so that it is skimming raw water directly from the tank.

 

[cham]

Another vote for skim fist, fuge after.

 

[rdmpe]

I agree with above, that's how mine is set up.

 

[markandkristen]

ditto

 

[mflamb]

I have a slightly different approach, and I'll explain.
The sump should be three sections. Skimmer section on one end, refugium on the other end and return section in the middle.
The tank drain should be divided into two with one pipe going into the skimmer section, and one pipe with a ball valve going into the refugium. The ball valve should be adjusted so about 30% of the water goes into the refugium, and the remainder to the skimmer section.
The reasoning is this: If the water is skimmed before the fuge, then there is now nutrients for the algae or pods in the fuge. If the water goes to the fuge and then the skimmer, then any pods that make it out of the fuge, which lots do, will be skimmed out. If some of the water goes through the skimmer and then is returned to the tank, and some of the water goes to the fuge and feeds the algae and pods, and some of the pods leave the fuge and go to the return section, the pods will be sent to the tank, minus the nutrients skimmed out and minus the nutrients removed by the algae and pods, and will be well.

What do you think???

 

[sytanek]

I have the setup mflamb is suggesting.

 

[mflamb]

Pics aren't that good.

 

[55semireef]

Looking good so far.