Pre-filter Tower Sump design

[hedgehog01]

I was at Texas Tropical and Marine looking at their Sump designs and the have theirs constructed with prefilter towers for filter pads at the top level and then at the second for live rock rubble or bio-balls then water enters the bubble trap, and then the return area where you may put your protien skimmer. The design does not include a fuge but you may add one in. Many of the sump/fuge designs I have seen on maast are not designed like this. Is the prefilter tower useful. I was wondering wether this would be good to use as I design my own. I would make mine have the prefilter then a compartment for the skimmer, bubble trap and then return/fuge or fuge/return. Any advice!

Stephen

[ReefOne]

I would design my own. I know how to work with a acrylic so I can say that I would rather build one to my specs. The filters are useful, but you would want to change them once they get dirty to keep it from adding nitrates and other crud to your water. Stay away from Bio-Balls also, nitrate factory. They are good for FOWLR, but not for reef tanks. I would go filter->Live rock rubble->PrSk->Fuge->return. HTH

Ram

[MattK]

I would agree with having the protein skimmer before the fuge, it just makes sense.

[captexas]

Actually, some would argue against that. Most of what you put in a fuge (macro algae) uses the excess nutrients in the water that a skimmer helps take out. So if the skimmer filters the water first you kind of starve the fuge. Some of the sumps I have seen and the two that I built for myself over the years actually split the drain line, one part going to the main sump area and feeding the skimmer and then a smaller part from the drain line feeding straight to the fuge. Then both areas drain into a commmon section that feeds the return pump.

[ReefOne]

that's also true. the middle return design is probably the best.

[hedgehog01]

So is the pre-filter useful or is the standard designs use by most people on maast functionally better.