How to keep Cheato in Sump?

Get either a piece of egg crate or just some undergravel filter. Cut it to fit the area the chaeto is getting through and your done.

A true refugium needs a slower flow but your macro algae will grow and thus pull stuff out of your water. What you will be missing is all of the slow flow critters such as feather dusters and sponges as well as not having as large a population of pods. You also wont be able to add a deep sand bed to your setup which helps pull nitrates out also. I had chaeto growing inline in my sump for a while and ended up pulling a handfull out every week. My nitrates and phosphates were always zero as well but I dont feed much and have about 70 pounds of liverock in my 55 gallon tank.


This was when I had my inline fuge.

 

So am I looking at what you're calling an undergravel filter in the picture? If so, do you think a place like petsmart would have it? I really only need one piece cut to size blocking to where the pumps are located. Your pics are really helpful! Thanks! Ryan

 

Flow aside, you can use either a veggie clip, or rubberband it to a live rock to keep it in place.

 

My LFS sells both fresh and salt water fish and some "experienced" equipment, which in past visits included parts for fresh water under gravel filters...if such is available to you, it as almost free...but to answer your question petsmart/petco/walmart, ect would generally have these in stock.