refugium owners...please help

[bentrue]

sorry for the length of this, but i just want to make sure i COMPLETELY understand this before i attempt the project. here is what i understand about refugiums, and some questions i have to fill in the holes.
i need to get an overflow box that hangs on the back of my main tank. (what kind of overflow box?) then i run a tube from the overflow box down to my refugium. (what kind of tube, how big, diameter?) this tube is siphoned and empties into the refugium.
in the refugium i have 3"-4" of LS and some caulerpa. (how much caulerpa, will this cause a small cycle to happen in my main tank?) then i use a pump to get the water back up to the main tank. (what kind of pump would be right for my tank, do i use the same type and size tube to return that i used to bring the water?)
how do i regulate the flows from the overflow down to the refugium, and then through the pump back to the main tank to keep the water levels equal?
do i add new saltwater to the refugium so that the levels will not drop dramatically when the siphon begins?
do i need to place a heater in the refugium? do i fill the refugium 3/4 full?
what type of lighting will i need to have for the refugium?
again, sorry for the length of the post, but i want to be sure and get this all right before i attempt it.
how much of a cost do you estimate in all of this?

 

[wamp]

Thats alot of questions.... First off.. Have you ever set up a sump?

 

[chevron tang]

Wow lots of questions. I can't answer all of them but I can answer some.
The overflow box is really personal preference it depends on how big your tank is and how big the sump is. Most people just use pvc piping and the diameter again just depends on size of overflow box.
Ok you can add any amount of caulerpa that you want just make sure its not absurdely too much or too little. And no it should not cause any cycle to happen in your tank.
Ok the last question I can answer is the pump once again depends on the size of the sump and the skimmer. I know a really good pump is the mag drive but there are different sizes to choose from.

 

[bentrue]

i know it is a lot of questions <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> but i had to get them out there instead at once instead of posting one after the other over the course of a few days. thanks for the info!!
to answer your questions: i have a 29g tank and plan on using a 10g tank for the refugium. i have never set up a sump before which is the reason for the questions.
thanks again in advance for reading this HUGE post and throwing out your info.

 

[accurate]

First of all!!You're from Hoover Ala????I lived in Irondale for two years, not that this is related to your question..
I have a 100 gal with a sump and refugium underneath. a pump pumps water from my sump to the refu then it drains back in for the pump to take it into the main aquarium.
my sump is about 25gal and refu 12gal
for u i sugest 10gal for refuge I have a sunglo lightstrip over mine with some grape in it. Thats what i have and it does good

 

[bentrue]

hey accurate! what LFS did you use when you lived in irondale? just curious.