DIY HOB refugium... could use tips (HELP) ;-)

I currently have a 55 gallon being filtered by a marineland 350 canister. I have a penguin bio wheel 200 HOB on there as well. Im looking to install a HOB refugium.
I have a few questions on different ways to go.

I have heard the aqua clear 110 makes a decent hob refug. Seems simple enough. I just dont understand baffling. Does the water just get sucked up, come into the chamber, flow through your substrate and LR and algea and get poured out? or is there more to it than that.

My second question is are there any plans for making one out of acrylic. I would think the bigger the tank the bigger the refug. I was thinking about making one around 18 inches long, 12 inches deep, and probably 4 or 5 inches wide. A few questions with this. Again baffling? Any plans out there? And can these be gravity fed. Like syphoning. With out installing electric motors etc.

Can the penguin 200 be turned into a HOB Refug?

My final question is...can you skim the water that is in the refug BEFORE it gets to the tank. I friend of mine is giving me his Tunze nano skimmer and r/o unit for a price i cant pass up. But, my light fixture wont allow it on the back. even with it pushed forward. The cup is just a little too tall. I have a 4 bulb t5 ho unit with feet that come down and grab the sides of the tank. The skimmer would fit into the HOB though.

Im avoiding doing a sump type refug because im moving in the near future. Wanting to buy a house. Then I will go nuts. But i want to keep the unit somewhat mobile / functional. And of course, money does play a role in things.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Im very glad i joined the forum thus far. Great people giving great advice. Very pleased!!

 

I have actually just done a aquaclear 100 into a mini hob sump I'll post the link also if you go to Nano-Reef.com Site Search There is a few people who have some build threads on this subject.

My DIY Ac110 mini hob sump
http://www.3reef.com/forums/filters-pumps-etc/mini-h-o-b-sump-out-aquaclear-110-a-124665.html
its has been up and running only 24 hours as of now, but is doing an awesome job

 

and to the skimming question, if you do a ac110 hob sump or refuge, then yes you can fit a nano skimmer into it, I'm not personally aware of any diy acryllic hob refugiums but I'm sure they are out there you just have to know where to look, for my sump it honestly as lame as it sounds came to me in a dream. lol.

 

IMO a fuge the size you mentioned would be just to small for a 55g. I run the CPR Aquafuge2 medium on my 26g. Fuge specs are 19L x 4.5W x 11H
You would need an intake pump. Also most nano skimmers are made for tanks up to 25-35gs again IMO to small for your tank.

 

What size would be good? I can't run a sump because my stand is too narrow

 

Well if your thinking about a DIY HOB Fuge something like 30L x 5.5W x 13H keep in mind the weight of the fuge when full. You would want to brace it up to take some of the weight off the back of your tank, no biggy really. Also this size would give you room for a HOB skimmer. Either way your going to wind up with at least 1-2 pumps inside your tank, sorry. Is there no way you can put a sump/fuge on the floor? Your tank is slightly larger then what's considered for a nano