Building a fuge

My 72 gallon bowfront tank currently does not have a fuge and is suffering as a result. So far I am planning on having the fuge in a 17 gallon rubbermaid container. I have an extra 60 pounds of sand and was thinking of doing a remote deep sand bed. With mangroves and various other macro algae in it. My questions are would I be able to just punch through the sides of the container and stick a bulk head with a cover on it for the return and how much water movement do I want to have? How much sand would I want to use? Could I use a smaller container than a 17 and what ratio do you want to have to the main thank size and how much light will I need?

 

sump experts help is needed!!!!!!!! bump!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Oh yeah foregot to add this will not be my sump rather it will be off the sump with the return back into the sump.

 

Any ideas?

 

I have a 5 gallon tank could I drill it and just use that what size pump do you reccomend.

 

Where is the sump going to go? Under stand, or somewhere else?
How is the water going to enter the sump?
Overflow box?

 

I'm no expert but i will try to help
yes you can put a hole in one side for the intake and then have it gravity back into your sump or pumped back into your sump
in fuges you usually want low-medium flow so all your macro algaes can work their magic
I am unsure on the sandbed but i usually hear around 5-6 inches for a Deep sand bed

you could use smaller if you wanted to but a 17 wouldnt hurt you

you want at least a 6500k bulb for fuges you can just get those spiral 6500k bulbs at the store

good luck, have fun, and take pics ;]

 

Like I said I have a five gallon tank. As for lighting I have the top of a ten gallon tank that can support 2- 30 watt bulbs. I already have a sump do my plan is to have the refugium about a foot higher then the sump and to pump water up to it and then plumb it so it drains down.