Live rock into the sump

[ClownieTang]

Can I put the live rock into any chamber of my sump? I have a 3 chamber sump, 1.'return pump', 2.'protein skimmer + phosban', 3.'return pipe' (water from main tank to the sump). There is plenty of room in the 'return pipe' chamber. Not much room in the 'protein skimmer + phosban', nor 'return pump' chambers. Can I put about 40-50 lbs of live rock into my 'return pipe' chamber? no other chamber, just the return pipe chamber. It is not a set up refugium chamber.

[jackwkahn]

Can I put the live rock into any chamber of my sump? I have a 3 chamber sump, 1.'return pump', 2.'protein skimmer + phosban', 3.'return pipe' (water from main tank to the sump). There is plenty of room in the 'return pipe' chamber. Not much room in the 'protein skimmer + phosban', nor 'return pump' chambers. Can I put about 40-50 lbs of live rock into my 'return pipe' chamber? no other chamber, just the return pipe chamber. It is not a set up refugium chamber.

As long as there are no dead zones (which i highly doubt for the entry chamber of a sump) then go for it! im doing the same thing, I want my display to be more open

[ClownieTang]

if I wanted to raise copepods in a refugium for a future mandarin goby, do I need to put the refugium BEFORE the protein skimmer? will copepods slip out of the refugium and into the skimmer? do copepods need live sand, or is just live rock good.

[ShooterRick]

if I wanted to raise copepods in a refugium for a future mandarin goby, do I need to put the refugium BEFORE the protein skimmer? will copepods slip out of the refugium and into the skimmer? do copepods need live sand, or is just live rock good.

First I am no expert. From talking to others your skimmer should supply from the 1st chamber but for sure before your refugium. Your pod will escape from time to time into the DT if your return pump is after the refugium and does not have a prefilter on it. Again I am no expert but this is my understanding of how the flow goes. Hope this helps and I am sure someone will come along to confirm what I have said.
Good Luck.

[ClownieTang]

hm, do they have actual refugiums for sale? like a separate box with those cut lines where it flows out of the fuge. the wall between the middle chamber and the return pump chamber is too short.

[ClownieTang]

actually, since the wall is short? can i just use a sump sponge? not sure what that is though haha. is it basically a sponge that I stuff in between the walls? can someone post a picture of it or a link to a picture of a sump/refugium sponge please? thank you!

[ShooterRick]

hm, do they have actual refugiums for sale? like a separate box with those cut lines where it flows out of the fuge. the wall between the middle chamber and the return pump chamber is too short.

yes they do have seperate refugiums. I have one complete with bulkhead fittings but choose not to use it on this 72 bow front build I am doing just because I have limited space under the stand and I am keeping the plumbing as simple as possible. If what I am doing to mod my sump doesnt work I may go ahead and use it. I have also considered other uses for it like capping the bulkheads and setting it up for a drip aclimation system.