Refugium as SH tank?

[chadg]

So, I've been trying a long time to figure out how I can handle another tank so I can have SH's. I love them, but could not dedicate the time for another complete setup. I have a 50 gal fish only and a 72 gal reef. Here is my thought...
Get a 30gal Octagonal tank hook it up to my 72 gal as a display refugium and I could put SH in there. The water quality would be great and I have a chiller on it for the summer. I would run a small powerhead in my tank to move water to the 30gal and have it drain back into the sump of my 72gal.
I also assume that with the vegetation that I could put in with the SH will also help keep the Nitrate level down.
So, is this a good idea or am I missing something that the SH would need that this would not accommodate? One more question: There is an option to get the back three panels a solid color. Is that a good idea? It is going to be close to a window, so I"m thinking that it would be good to keep down some of the natural light?

 

[rykna]

I would caution setting up a refugium for the main purpose of being able to squeeze seahorses into your tank. They produce a huge amount of waste, which wouldn't be good for the refugium or the DT. I wouldn't feel comfortable having them tucked away in a refugium, I like to be able to view them at all times do to their health needs.

 

[cleve_seahorse]

Why put a very expensive seahorse in a fuge??? They are usually the "superstars" of the tank...not hidden in a fuge down below: when people come to my house they only comment on the horses , not fish , not tanks or softie corals ....but the horses

 

[chadg]

No, you guys don't understand. The 30 Gal Oct tank would go NEXT to the 72 gal reef. It would be like extending the display area. Putting them below would be very stupid and pointless.... My aim is to show case the horses, but leverage all the equipment of my reef tank to keep the water parameters in check. Make sense now?

 

[teresaq]

That does, but the problem I see is keeping the temp in the horse tank at a constant 74 to 75 degrees.
T

 

[chadg]

I do run a chiller on my tank, but usuall keep the temp around 77. Are there any species that can thrive at a bit higth temp? Either that or I think my reef could withstand 75, I'll have to reasearch what I have in there and such.
Thanks!