Trying to make use of space.

My 46 gallon reef sits only 1'6" from the floor since it is nested in the corner between the wall and my couch on a sturdy modified end table. It looks great in the spot and alows viewing from the couch and a chair that sits near the front of it. The problem is the small amount of space where the refugium sits underneath the tank and the large empty space on the wall above it. I have an idea for an artistic and hopefully working fefugium filter above the tank. I want to make it out of Plexiglas and PVC and paint the plumping to match some the house so it looks good. Here is my MSPaint plans.

 

Well, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Pump up, gravity down. Just in reverse order. The only thing you really have to think about is overflow in terms of the tank. If the pump in your main tank fails, all of that water from the fuge will enter your DT, cascade over the sides of your tank and onto the floor. You only have maybe an inch tops of space between the water level and the top of the tank. One power outage would ruin your day. In the sump beneath the tank version, you don't have to worry about that so much, because the bottom tank is not full....often times only half full and you can avoid this situation entirely.

 

BTW, nice set up you have there. I really like the corner look. I am envious of those who are able to keep there tanks next to comfy chairs.

 

I think your light might get absorbed early on and won't reach DT. Unless you are using many lights.

 

I was wondering about the lights but i have a hanging lamp above the tank that i can put a plant grow light in for more light. That should do the job with the power compact fixture i have for the top. Also i plan to leave the 20g sump under the table. im using it as a refugium now but its hard to access so ill just use it for water volume and skimming. any other ideas are welcome. I haven't had a project for my tank in so long i want to do something different. I want to do something similar with my 110 freshwater tank and grow some decorative semi aquatic plants like bacopa caraliniana which grows around lakes here and has nice white/purple flowers. my wife will like that.