refuge size

I wanted to set up a refuge on my 55g reef tank, I have a 30g laying around that I was thinking of using, would a 30g be to much or should I look for something smaller?

 

A refuge can be any size you want. It can even be larger than your tank. This is helpful if you have a picky fish like a mandarin. I would say use what you got.

 

ok thanks (that will save a little money).
What size pump would I need for something like this?

 

It depends what kind of flow you want in your refuge. Some like a fast, some like a slow/swamplike flow. It also depends on your head. If you have any pumps, I would try them first.

 

The type plants that you use dictates the flow rates and sand depth Cheado needs fast flows and little to no sand as the water will be moving to fast for that to have any effects really , with the Caulerpa's I use and 5 inch sand bed that requires slow flows. As for a pump ? Most myself included allow the drain water to sump to feed the fuge on a bypass and then it simply drains on the opposite end from the feed water and over into the sump no pumps needed .

 

I think I want to go with a slower flow, I am going to put the baffles in this weekend, I meant the pump on the return line to the main tank(sump),I was looking at a mag 305 but wasn't sure if this was enough gph.

 

would it be better to put a split on the over flow so it feeds the refuge separate with the return in the middle? I noticed a couple of designs that do this and wondered if it was better because not all of your overflow would be going threw the refuge.(never mind)

Ok I get it know I read threw some other post. Makes sense now. lol.
The power of reading.