[randymon]

I would like to have a 20 gal gravity return refugium on my new 125 gal tank but would also like to hide the skimmer and heater too. Would it be possible to do a above tank sump/ skimmer with a overflow box and small pump inside. Does anybody have a setup like this....any thoughts?

[marxsman]

If your going to spend the money on a sump, I would recommend getting a bigger sump. i use a 10gal refug and a 10 gal sump on a 55 gal. Both are run inline from the main tank via overflow to refug and overflow to sump and pumped back into the tank. I hide my skimmer and heater in the sump. But I still need bigger sump. The more water the better!

You would be happier investing money once and the right way.

[Reefland]

I have never seen a "sump" above the tank simply because it wouldn't be as effecient since there is no way to pull only surface water to a tank above another. One of the benefits to a sump is that water drained to it is pulled from the surface of the water. The surface is where proteins accumulate that you want to remove before they turn into more troublesome waste. In your case, you could use a sump under the tank and a refugium abve the tank which is probably the best option for a refugium.

[randymon]

I was thinking on the lines of my pre skimmer on my bak pac to draw the surface water.

[Reefland]

And then what?

I think you'll find that getting a surface skimmer going with some kind of pump to push water up to this area is going to be much more trouble that it is worth.

[randymon]

The whole idea would be to have an overflow box with a rio or maxi inside where water from the surface spills into but is then pumped up to the sump/refugium. My bak pac pre skimmer box does just that on my 55 (Sumpless) and keeps the surface film free. Any ways then have the sump built somewhat baffled like my cpr hob refugium with an area for the heater and mabey a skimmer. If I dont have enough room for a skimmer which aqua remora would you recomend for a 125. I just feel that with the gravity drain set high in the refugium that there would be less room for floods and my mandarin would benifit more. Its basicly like my sumpless system now with an area to put some things. 55 gal softy reef W/ bak pac, hob refugium up and running for 3 yrs and all looking good.