sump/refugium

[heatherdee]

After reading as many back-posts as I could today...Im almost ready to go.
75 seahorse display tank.
Want to build a 30 gallon long sump/refugium under it.

I saw some diagrams.... 1st chamber for the sock. 2nd for the skimmer / return..and the right side for the refugium. Refugium gets slow flow water from a T off the return from the sump. This would make about a 15 gallon refugium.

1.Does the main purpose of the sump become just added water volume and hiding skimmer?

2. would it be better to run the "t" from the return pump, to an overhead 10-20 gallon refugium and let it drain back into the display from above ? It would be easy for me to do that. If so...what would the sumps main purpose be? would it basically be being used only for the sock and skimmer....or would you add things to it for bio-filtration? More live rock? I wouldnt mind the above refugium because i plan on lots of pods and it would be easier to see on top.


But it would leave a pretty empty 30 gallon sump

 

[USC-fan]

1. yes and yes

2. yes that would be best since pods would not be destroy by the a return pump. Sumps are used mainly for a place for equipment. Skimmers, heaters, probes....etc. I have about 25lbs of LR in my fuge/sump and I also use the it for "time out" for bad animals. I run this on a release light schedule which also help keep the PH more stable.

 

[heatherdee]

Since I would be placing the refugium separately above, what else would you put down below?

ANy type of mechanical filtration?
Or possibly make the right side sump chamber be a place for future juvenile raising