Question about chaeto

Hey folks. Just wondering about the best way to add chaeto to my sump (was hoping i'd be able to convert a small area of it to a refugium type deal). currently have a 30g sump under my 90g DT. In the sump i have a large area full of bio balls (i know, not the best, but cant afford to fill it with LR rubble atm). in the rest of the sump i have my protein skimmer and a return pump that, after head calculation, is probably pumping the water back to my DT at about 450gph. I was wondering how I could add chaeto to this sump, and help reduce my nitrates (having algae problems in the DT and need to do something to reduce its foodsource). If i add a ball of chaeto, what strength of lighting would I need to install on top of the sump? What other considerations would I need to look at?

 

I bought a used Power Compact fixture from my LFS and put a 67k Power Compact bulb in the fixture and my fist size ball of Cheato has grown pretty good so far.

 

I have a small 18W PC fixture over my fuge and the chaeto is getting a haircut today...I put the fuge in right at a month ago and had two tennis ball size chaeto clumps at that time. My fuge is 2.5 gallons and it's full of the stuff...

 

Have a PO4 reactor ? as for the cheado a small little tank set inside the sump would also work . Light it with as much as you have to promote strong photosyntheses . Also the deep sand bed in there will do a lot to help out also.. And why do you feel L.Rock rubble in the wet dry is bettere then bio balls or some other media . What will the rocks do or add that the bio balls won't or can't add ?