Sir chuck I would like to design a sump that would incorporate what you have mentioned in the other threads in the past few days.
The plan is to make the display tank(softy tank) BB. My rock formation would be made of a similar small sized LR to make more hidding places for fish and easier placement of frags. Just in case the this would not work in the future coz of nitrates build up I'll just add sand later on.
With the above plan I'm in the search of a sump that would help me go without a skimmer. Please see below pic of the sump I have in mind.
The water feed would be from the left and is thru a trickel system to ensure that water is evenly distributed on the tank surface. This tank (LR only) would not be lit to promote/simulate a cryptic zone(I'm not sure if this would work). Would hair algae grow in this tank given that I would no place any light on top?
Water would overflow to the next tank. The first chamber would be filled with either LR or LS. the second chamber would be the fuge area and have the cooling and light system that you mentioned in the other thread.
The glass that would be used for the "raceway" would be supported by 1/2" pvc frame. How much flow do we need for the Power head to force that "new water" to the left area of the fuge?