Need some help with my SUMP/REFUGIUM

Hey guys!!! Id like to say you guys have a great forum going here and I hope you can help me out with a few questions. I Have a 125 gallon tank that I am slowly turning into a reef tank. I just bought a sump with a few compartments in it and now I am wondering what you guys think would be the best things to put inside. What would be the best light choice? I am hoping I can just put a few halegon lights in there. IS this enough? How deep of a bed of live sand should I put in there? Does there need to be any additional water movement in the sump other than the return pump? Should I be putting any crabs, or shrimps in the filter? I want to use an overflow box.. Are there any overflows that have two adapters so I can connect to seperate drain plugs? I plan to put some caulapra in the sump with the live sand and I am also debating whether or not I should place any addition live rock in the sump? I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback. If anyone needs to know some additional info about the tank to answer questions please let me know. Thanks ahead of time.
Dave

 

It is a great idea to add a refugium to your set up. Do not use halogen lights as these will overheat your tank and provide very little usable light. I reccommend the bulbs listed here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=313318
I use these bulbs with great success.


You can run your fuge with a sand bed, bare bottom, or with the miracle mud. I think it comes down to personal preference as many have been successful using each.

In my opinion the best macro algae for a fuge is cheatomorpha. It grows fast, consumes nitrates, and will not go sexual like caulerpa.

As far as critters are concerned, you could put just about anything in there: crabs, snail, stars.

I hope this helps!