[Triggerjay]

My skimmer sits in the sump. I am moving so much water in my system, it would not really matter where it was. The macro in your fuge will absorb nitrates no matter where it is plumbed into the system, as long as it has appropriate flow. I use my sump as the foundation of my system. everything is fed from it, and everything returns to it. By having my skimmer in the sump, I know that eventually all my water goes through it. My fuge works fine having it fed directly from the sump, and don't really see the advantage of feeding it between the tank and skimmer. I am assuming that by feeding it from the tank, pre-skimmed, that the macro will absorb more nitrates? I am just trying to see the logic in it. Both the fuge, and skimmer are forms of filtration, and what one doesn't catch, the other one likley will, regardless of where it is in the system. I put mine next to the sump entirely out of convience and space. I wanted inside the stand to be as open as possible for supplies, etc. I do however have my CL pump inside my stand, but thats it. Wherever you decide to put the fuge, just make sure it is easy to get to. I could have fed my fuge easy enough keeping it in the same location and use the setup I feel you are thinking about by just dropping one of the drains from my main display into the fuge, then letting the fuge drain into the sump. It would be pre-skimmed this way, and there would be little change to the system setup, other than moving one drain line from the sump into the fuge. Now, I have a question for those more intellegent than me.. If you are skimming 24/7, in the heart of your system, would there be such a thing as "pre" skimmed water? Ok, I'm off to bed. If you have any more Q's about the system, drop me a line, and I will help you out to the best of my knowledge. I cant wait to see your system come together.

Jason