Hey everyone, I'm about to set up a 55 gallon FO tank with NO LR for many reasons. I plan on having a sump. I bought 2 ten gallon tanks, and here's the deal, I'm trying to come up with a good sump design.

So, I'll be using a skimmer, bio-bale and a refugium.

So, first question, should I put the skimmer before the bio-bale? cuz, since those can become nitrate factories, it's better to filter compounds before they go through the bio media.

So, I'm guessing I would have the overflow drain into filter pads, then, the water would be skimmed.

Here comes the next question, would it be ok to attach PVC to the output of the skimmer, and have the water trickle into a bucket with the bio media, so that, only very clean water would go through the bio bale.

Concening overflow box, I'm hesitating between two eshopps box, one with 800 gph, the other with 900. Except the 900 has two u tubes. Which one seems more appropriate for my tank.

Then, the water would drain into a tube, which would then be split, and some water would go to the left side of the sump, where the refugium is, and the on the other side, the water would drain on the filter pads. The return pump would be in the middle of the sump, receiving water from refugium, and from bio-bale.

Also, do you guys think a refugium is a good idea for me. I'm guessing it would be helpful to get rid of the nitrates, but what else?

My stock list would be something like,

flame angel, blue tang, humu (which would be removed WHEN TOO BIG), clownfish...

thank you, and hopefully, my questions will be answered.