Refugium Before or After Skimmer (Triton Method)

[Acroart]

I am building out a 106 gallon lagoon style tank 48"x32"x16" and looking to implement the Triton method. Wanted to know if any one had an opinion on refugium placement in the sump. Most setups I have noticed have the refugium in line first then the skimmer. I was thinking of skimming first, then a large refugium and finally to the return. Let me know your opinion, set ups, successes or issues.

Thanks

 

[Punchanello]

I would follow the Triton recommendation as closely as possible. Refugium before Skimmer. I think that's because there are organic nutrients that might get skimmed out that are beneficial for macro algae growth.

I've had to compromise because my sump came with an all-in-one system but if I was starting from scratch I'd have the refugium first.

 

[Acroart]

Thanks Punchanello I think your on to something there. Another insite into this is the Trigger Triton Sump is set up with the refugium first thats got to be like that for a reason.

 

[d2mini]

Yep, Triton specifies refugium first and the fuge should be sized AT LEAST 10% of your display volume.
Make sure you do your research before jumping into it. That's one of the key elements of a Triton setup.
They have a sponsor forum on the other forum. Lots of good info there.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

This seems a like a weird question to me. Macro algae most readily uses nutrients that have already broken down, ie stuff a skimmer can't touch. Skimmers work better at "large" organics, ie stuff macro algae can't directly use. For me, the only consideration is how dirty I want my refugium.

There are other reasons to want or not want a refugium exposed to things a skimmer would remove, but I don't see macro algae growth as part of the argument. If you want your refugium to grow lots of other micro life, you may want raw water in it. But on the other side of the argument, if you don't want detritus accumulating in your refugium, you may want to skim the water first.

Ultimately, with the incredibly high turnover rates most people use these days, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[drtrash]

How would pods make it to display if they have to go by skimmer?

 

[Acroart]

I am now considering a split system were 50% of the overflow heads to the refugium and the other 50% to the skimmer then they both would spill over to a return pump in the center. This is got to be a good setup to capture the benefits of not sending the fudge water to the skimmer zone but still getting plenty of interface with both nutrient exporting methods especially with 10xs turnover.

 

[d2mini]

How would pods make it to display if they have to go by skimmer?

Well, they ummm.... go by it. And wave on the way by. :wavehand:

 

[urban_s]

Well, they ummm.... go by it. And wave on the way by. :wavehand:

What he said...I have seen some people put a 2nd fuge above the tank and gravity feed it into the thank,