Skimmer--->DSB or DSB---->Skimmer

[Frank Mularo]

Hello all,
I am putting together a breeding setup consisting of four tanks plumbed into the same filtration system. As part of the filter setup will be a DSB/refugium, I am trying to decide my best course of action as regards the placement of a skimmer. Should I plumb the water into a sump with the skimmer first, or should I plumb into the DSB sump first. I am new to the concept of a DSB, so I am a bit unsure of whether they do better with unskimmed or skimmed water.

 

[Will C1]

i would put the skimmer last as it takes out a lot of gunk, some of the gunk would be helpfull to the algea but some of the gunk comes from the algea so if ya put it right before the return you should get better water in the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Well in theory the DSB would be in every tank not just the refugium, the skimmer in the sump should be the last step before being pumped back into the main tanks. I would have the water flowing from the main tanks into the refugium and that water flowing into the sump right near the return pump so that it's kicked back up to the main tanks.

Remember flow rate through a refugium should be VERY low - a healthy refugium is pretty close to a stagnant cesspool.

 

[danmhippo]

Remember flow rate through a refugium should be VERY low - a healthy refugium is pretty close to a stagnant cesspool.

Very true. I would make refugium a separate tank from the skimmer. Most of the water will process through the skimmer, but only a small portion of water will pass through the refugium, and have the refugium flow directly into the return pump intake.