Sump/Refugium Question

[AUFishGuy]

Thanks. Looks like this is gonna be the best way. I'm pretty sure but just want to be positive. In this configuration the middle section where the return pump and skimmer are located is the section where the water level will vary due to evaporation, correct?

 

[AUFishGuy]

I would recommend putting your refugium on the end of the tank if at all possible, flowing into the return section, so it looks like:

-----------------------------------> <-------------
Inlet | Skimmer | Baffles | Return Pump | Refugium

That way you can fine tune the flow going into the refugium (tee off from return flow if you have extra capacity), but also have a tall refugium and maximise water height as opposed to being restricted to being lower than the skimmer chamber height.

For nutrient export in your refugium, bigger is always better. With a small refugium you will get lower nutrient export, there is no real "ideal size", make it as big as you can and live with it.

Meant to quote you above

 

[AUFishGuy]

So the only way I can make this work without completely replumbing my drains is to put the skimmer and the return in the same section. The issues would be water level and pods being eaten up by the skimmer.

I have a good ATO, avast marine so as long as it is set in the correct position the water level should stay pretty consistent.

The pods being eaten up by the skimmer I can't figure out a solution for. Do you think this will be a huge issue.