refugium

[nycbob]

i am thinking of setting up a hang-on refugium. do u think its a good idea? what is the best setup? what r the benefits?
stock list: 100-105 gallon tank
clown
six line
blue tang
scooter
orange gobie
salifin tang
2 chromis
pistol shrimp
2 peppermint
coral banded shrimp
6 snails
15 hermit crabs
3 zoas colonies
2 leathers
gsp
cloves
trumpets
5 mushrooms
monti

 

[essop3]

You'd get better results from a bigger, under the tank fuge. A hang on wouldn't hurt though.
The best setup, although not often done, is above the display. That way pods and other small creatures are gravity fed back into the tank. Many can get killed going through a return pump.
Benefits include increase in pods and other good bugs, more tank stability by increasing water volume and nitrate/phosphate reduction by growing macro algae.