Fuge size, 9 or 10"? Iotw, bigger sump or fuge?!

I'm at the moment putting the sump baffles in place. I keep going back and forth on to have a bigger return area or fuge??!

Input area is currently 10.5", triple baffle, then the return area which is going to be 12.5 or 13.5" depending on ya'lls answers concerning the fuge! Doh! ;D

bottom line... is it better to have a bigger return area or a bigger fuge? Fuge baffle is 12" high.

All this is in a 30g long tank. 36"L x 12"W x 16"H

 

I would say bigger input area depending on what skimmer you plan on going with...
Other than that I would have a bigger fuge...

 

I personally would make the refug side as big as possible. Most of us tend to either overstock or over feed, this would be an "insurance-policy" against that. The only draw back on having the return section small, is that you will be topping off more freguently.


Luna

 

im voting bigger fuge also. get as much macro in as you can and it will help keep your water stable.

 

+3 on bigger fuge

 

Have you figured out how much volume will be in your return area? You might want to consider how much evaporation it will take before your return pump will run dry in case your topoff system fails for a day or two.

IMO as long as you're comfortable with that then make the refugium as big as possible.

 

You guys RocK! Seriously, thank you. Will make fuge 10"L x 12"H x 12"W then... hmm..maybe i should go to 10.5 or 11 lol Will go look at how much room that leaves for the return area.