What is a "sump" "Refugium" and many other word i have never herd mean?

Anything will be beneficial to you to increase water volume and surface area!
As for the gph you would need from your pump in the sump to your tank. You would need to have to determine how many feet you would need to get the water from your sump to your main tank, Based on that the pumps are broken down as far as the gph the pump would put out at that particulay feet. Obviously, the greater the distance the water has to travel from the sump to your tank top, the lower each pump will allow. Plus the size of tubing and if you use "t" or "Y" connectors, it will decrease the gph as well.

 

I thank a 10 gallon would be kinda small, but if you can get it to work.... You can make a very basic sump/refuge system out of it. Or you can make just a refuge out of it, and just skip the sump if you dont mind having all the equipment in the tank. All you would need is an overflow box, the 10 gallon tank, a return pump with low gph, and an imagination. It all depends on what kinda bio-load you want to have in the main tank. Then you desine the system around that. Or just upgrade as you go, like me, he he.

 

LOL, just hear what Coral Reefer has to say, that is just a huge package of info there, ha.

 

what size sump would be optimum, im looking to put my heater, filter, in it

 

er that depends

Hi,
Most sumps are hidden away under the tank depending on you tank placement and space under and behind, remeber to allow space for the skimmer depending if its tall , I would think may a 20 or 30 long should fit under your stand , I would put it againts the wall and directly under that back of your tank that way the returns will be above the sump , preventing any leaks from missing the sump.
Theres always some minor problems the first sump you build my LPS told me to use a used good glass tank who cares if its got water spots as long as it holds water.
This is one case were bigger is better and the tank is the cheepest item in the sump get the biggest that will fit.
Also be sure your heater is a good one many freshwater heaters fail in salt. And finally i would reccomend a DSB with a good skimmer and some algae with a light.
that way you get all of the best for your buck.
Nassiurs snails are best critters for the sump and those pods. if you want to fire up the sump fast adda couple pounds of live sand to the dead sand , live sand out of a tank not a bag from a freind or a good LPS that way you get some critters for the sump and good bacteria cycles faster this way.

Doug