Refugiums, sumps...

I was reading a thread about fuge flow and saw people talking about one turnover per hour on the refugium , in the design im working on (65gal main 20gal sump) once the water enters the first chamber wich holds the skimmer, then goes through a chamber i wanted to use for a DSB with macroalgae and mangroves and then to the third chamber wich should hold the return pump, if i slow the fuge down too much it would lower my skimmer performance since it's not being replentish with "dirty water" as much as it should ( i was thinking about a 200gal/h flow, how could i solve my need for fast water movement in the sump for the skimmer and also be able to have a slow fuge?

I was originally thinking on a linear left to right flow fuge but i think i should use something like a 3 chamber design with a fuge in one side and and the skimmer in the other side each with it's own intake (this would allow me to bring the water for the skimmer from the surface and the water for the fuge from middle depth in the main tank(somehow makes sense)) and regulate the speed of each intake a string of water for the fuge and a fast flow for the skimmer chamber, both side chambers come together at the center of the sump and there i would put the return pump.

What do you think?

 

I built a three stage refuguim as you described, but my skimmer is post fuge not pre. I use ozone which has basically made my skimmer needless. I use to empty my cup once a week (coralife super - very large collection cup) now I empty it every other month

Cheato likes fast water, you could go with that rather than other macro's. But I would skim post as to not starve the fuge

 

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

There's several different designs you can look at in the link above. I don't know much but I do know that "red slime" prefers low flow water flow so If your fighting that in your display tank then you would definately want a low gph through your 'fuge section.

 

That was my thread you saw. Im still struggling with thoughts of slowing my fuge that much. That just seems crazy slow. Im planning on hooking up a phosban reactor to my fuge now also and I dont want that on slow flow. I think if people are saying chaeto likes fast flow you should go with that. Its the best macro IMO anyway. Thats what I have now and it grows like a weed. Still pretty sure I need to slow my flow down from 200 gph some at least.

If its an option you could also set up a smaller tank such as a ten gallon and t off some of the flow from that to your fuge then you could still keep the fast flow through your sump for your skimmer.