sump/refuge update, advise please, ready to move forward.

[BJMBNE472]

Ive been building this sump/refuge for 2 months, the display is 150gal. its a 110 gallon sump, with a aqua medic skimmer, and a top fathom 300A skimmer, turbotwist 36watt UV, cpr 7' sock filter, 3 stage rena filstar, RO/DI unit 100gph, 24x24x10 acrylic frag tank(with 1 250w MH, 2 PC, and 4 leds),Mag 18 return pump, cpr cs201 overflow box, adding a remote deep sand bed but need advise on the best method. Any advise would be very helpful thanks a ton. Also i need help with what to grow in refuge? Chato? Not sure. Ive attached pics so you can see what i've got, PLEASE let me know what else i could do to create optimum growing conditions. reactors? Mud? DSB? Chato? anything.Ricorida is what I plan on growing first. Thanks a ton.

[CarmieJo]

Hi Brandon and to TR!

You have a good setup started. I would not use the canister filter, you really don't need it and, unless you clean it at least weekly, they tend to raise nitrates. In a system your size it may not be significant but why put the burden on your tank? I would definitely add a RDSB for denitrification. Chaeto is a good tried and true macro for in the fuge. I also like caulerpa because it is such a fast grower but you have to be really careful to not let it get in the display because it is invasive and is hard to eradicate once it gets a foothold.

[BJMBNE472]

the canister is actually empty, i just use it as a way to power the UV, I know its dumb, but it was plumbed that way when it was under the tank so I was tring to keep inital cast down. So how big should i make the RDSB? I all ready have the bulkheads and all plumbing.

[BJMBNE472]

Oh, and what lights to use on the refuge and how long per day? I heard to leave them on at night to keep the PH levels stable? Is there any truth to that?

[CarmieJo]

the canister is actually empty, i just use it as a way to power the UV, I know its dumb, but it was plumbed that way when it was under the tank so I was tring to keep inital cast down. So how big should i make the RDSB? I all ready have the bulkheads and all plumbing.

That is a good use of the canister. Plus you can use it to run media if needed or for occasional water polishing. The latest idea is to have a RDSB in a couple of sections so you can take part of it off line if you want or need to. I haven't changed over to a RDSB so I am not really 100% certain of what to tell you size wise. Dick, AKA Amphibious, is using them and I will ask him to check in.

Oh, and what lights to use on the refuge and how long per day? I heard to leave them on at night to keep the PH levels stable? Is there any truth to that?

I use a plant grow light in one of those clip on reflectors over my fuge, if yours is longer you could use a cheap shop light fixture instead. I do run it on a reverse cycle from my tank lights to keep the pH stable.