Fuge help

Hi all - This is my first sump/fuge set up ( bought it used) and I'm hoping I can get some pointers. I attached a pic of my sump, and when you are looking at it, the drain flows in on the far right, the PVC goes to the bottom of the 1st chamber that has live rubble at the bottom, and some bio balls at the top. Water overflows from there into the fuge that has about 3" of live sand, some live rock, and my heater. This area is lit with PC lights 10 hrs/day. Water overflows from there into a 3rd chamber that has a fitted piece of media, similar to a giant Brillo pad, and flows through that pad to the bottom outlet into the chamber where the skimmer is, and then out to the tank.

My questions are:

1 - any overall suggestions?
2 - what else should I add to my fuge?
3 - do I need that piece of media in there? If not, what would I use that chamber for?
4 - If I want to "polish" my water column, it seems that carbon is a good choice. Where/how would I put that in the system?

Display tank is 90 gallons with good flow. FOWLR for now, 1 hippo tank, 2 perc clowns, 1 tomato clown, 1 watchmen goby, a coral banded shrimp, a few blood shrimp, and a bunch of hermit crabs and snails. I would like to slowly build it into an "easier to maintain than harder to maintain" reef tank, but hopefully just keep T5s and avoid a MH system.

Thanks in advance for the guidance.

Mike

 

Forgot to add that my fuge light is on the same time that my T5s in the DS tank are on, 2-12 everyday. Not sure if that matters.

Thanks

 

I would switch your fuge light to be on for 12 hours opposite your main lights, this help balance things out over a full day, so like 12-12

Also adding some macroalgea like chaeto to your fuge will help keep nitrates down, it wont matter much with FOWLR but as you transition into reef it will help alot.

 

I heard that, I think I'll give it a try. What does that mean though, balancing things out? What exactly are you balancing with DS/fuge lighting?

 

mostly PH, again in a FOWLR the effect is far less important but as you transition it will make things alot better for any corals (and your fish happier).

the fuge will keep pulling carbon dioxide out of the water, and adding oxygen when the light is off in main tank

 

I would also lose the bioballs, they are really extranious especially with the live rock rubble. I would also add some mangrove trees to the small chamber after the fuge (no need to plant them, just let the roots dangle in the water) they are great at removing nitrates,phosphate, and other contaminates. they will need light but nothing expensive, a Home Depot clip on reflector with a compact florecent bulb will do at about $10.

 

Awesome, thanks for the replies all. I actually picked up some chaeto today at the LFS. They were saying to keep the fuge light on 24/7 though. Thoughts? They also suggesed I put a small powerhead in there to keep things moving, seems like an OK idea...