Refugium, Skimmer?

[GMeWu]

I have installed my sump and have made it into a refugium. To my astonishment I already have growth of what seems like cocepods (little white dots on glass and jumping on rocks/plants).

My main questions is would it be a bad idea for me to hang my protein skimmer on the refugium? The main idea of sumps is to put all the gadgets into there but would my skimmer "skim" all of the growth away? I would like the fact my fish has a diversity of natural food coming there way sometimes, but im not sure what the impact of my skimmer would do.

 

[rabagley]

When designing a refugium into a sump, you should generally try to put the area where the filters are located before the refugium compartment for exactly the reasons you mention.

If you can't put the skimmer "before" the refugium area with your current design, the skimmer is still likely to help more than it hurts (some fraction of the floating goodies will still get sent to the main tank unless you have a massive skimmer on a tiny sump). But if you have the chance to rework baffles to locate the skimmer so it pulls from the drain area of the sump, you may be even happier with the results.

Regards,
Ross

 

[HClH2OFish]

Depending on the size of your fuge, you can get tank dividers at your LFS.
The ones I'm talking about are flow thru design...
I'd set one in the tank if you can, put the skimmer in one side (or hung on that side if it's HOT) It's also a great area to add LR rubble and chaeto.
You could do this on both sides if it's long enuff and have the center area as the 'fuge.

 

[Anonymous]

The skimmer will probably remove some of the life if you put it on your refugium. It really would be a shame to do so as those creatures are of such benefit to your tank.

Is there anyway you can block off an area in your sump where the water first enters it from your tank, and have your skimmer in there, and then the water can flow into your refugium area, where it is then pumped into your tank?

If this is the only place to put your skimmer, then go ahead and put it there. It certainly won't skim everything out, and you have to work with the space you have.