question about stand alone refuge

[lane2800]

i have a 55 gal tank that i am currently not using. it is acrylic but has no holes drilled for plumbing. i was wondering if i just use it to grow pods, and stock it with live sand and live rock, with powerheads for circulation. would i need to add a mechanical filter?
i have a wet/dry sump available but was hoping to avoid drilling the tank.
any thoughts?

 

[mkzimms]

a 55 is pretty big to just grow pods in. why dont you just plumb it to your main tank? have you ever tried to collect pods, they're quick? i used to try and catch them from my main display's refugium to feed to my seahorse and i could only get a few at a time per "collecting trip". i had an easier time harvesting them from my filter sock.

 

[lane2800]

never had luck keeping them going in my main tank. started a 24 nano, a couple years ago, and they were all over that, but i had not added fish at that time.