Am buying a new tank tomorrow and planing on fitting it with a home designed sump and refugium in one i,ve got a sump tank its L=30in D=12in H=15in
i have not yet started to build it so i thought it would be a good thing to share with you guys and show progress and get ideas

I think I saw this one....

i will start a pic set up

It's a start good luck

Yep...that is the start....looking forward to seeing it progress!!!!

well im a bit futher on with my sump so what do you guys thyink of the spaceing and layout ?

You can see me taking pic in that last one

Here is the sump fitted into the base of the rio 300 and getting a little water test, i had to modify the base to fit sump.

Tank is drilled this took about 90 mins , Note the black plastic guide i made and stuck onto glass so the drill remaind true and straight


The tools of the trade, leaning against diamond drill bit is the peice of glass that was drilled out.

looking good so far

Well here is the finished sump running

the compleate set up

looks niceee,
might i suggest putting the heater in the sump if it fits?
what kinds of fish nd corals nd stuff r u planing on adding in the future?
again looks goood

Cheers, Heater (small one on left) will go in sump i just need to sort out thr wireing at back,
as for fish i already have a sixline wrass a stars and strips puffer a lionfish and a porcupine puffer at shop to come home soon !!
But i would also like a queen angel

Looking very good.... glad it came together so nicely for you...The bio-beads are not necessary with LR...in fact you may see elevated Nitrates over time with them.....

cool... very cool,
i can't wait till i set mine up in a few years... i've saved enough money to buy half a setup lol haha...

was thinking that the nitrate produced by bioballs would be ok as am going for a FOWLR set up with messy fish and will be doing weekly water changes so it wouldnt get to high, what do you think ? your input as always is appreciated

GFandy i rekon your tank will be worth the wait as you already seem to have good knowledge

thankss

my opinion on the Bioballs thing, is that i don't think that they'd be neccessary cause u got the macro or what ever plant in the sump and then you have LR and some sand in the sump too, i think it'll take care of the nitrogen cycle stuffs. (i could be wrong though)

have a good dayy

You have LR...why use bio-beads..or bio-balls? Even doing weekly water changes your nitrates will climb and there is really no need to have them in your system....make the LR do your bio work and your nitrates will not climb as fast...JMHO....

point taken, bio balls are going

What is a refugium for?

its basically a algae growing tank, algae absorbs natrate and phosphate as it grows

also a refugium that has sand in it can grow various kinds of pods, which are food for some fish and corals and stuff like that. and the plants provide a means of nutrient export

That about sums it up....