jbiegs,
The time that it took to setup the sump and refugium is about 2 weeks. It took some testing and trying different things. If you need some help with something like this then please let me know. It should not take you nearly as long. As for the cost. The sump was about $260, and the 30 gallon, well I had it laying around. So it would just be the standard cost of a 30 gallon. the plumbing was about $10, and the Mag 9.5 was about $80. I am sure that their are some other odd and ends, but nothing that is really expensive.
As for the design, it is something that I came up with. I will be honest and say that some of it was luck as for the way that the space turned out.
Let me know if you have additional questions.
Eugene