Your pump would sit inside your DT so a HO pump would look unsightly and could suck up unwary fish or inverts. A Maxijet1200 on the other hand is small & easily hidden from view. If you use the included strainer, fish & inverts will be unlikely to get trapped by it.
The more powerful the pump, the bigger it is and the more likely you'll trap one of your inhabitants.
For undrilled tanks, an above tank sump/refugium is a very viable alternative if you have something next to the tank that would hold a tank slightly higher than the display tank. For the 20g sump, I had the hole drilled at the 8-9" level, so the skimmer water level was correct. I would drill an emergency drain so that its opening (either from bulkhead or from a standpipe) is a couple inches from the top of the sump.
I had the sump divided with a baffle & the MJ pumped water into the far side where the skimmer sat, with the skimmed water overflowing into a fuge section with chaeto & macroalgae. Lots of pods & live mysis thrived in the fuge section and a few would take a ride into the DT WITHOUT getting chewed up by a return pump.
Hope this all makes sense.
Anthony
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If you see it, can take care of it, better get it or put it on hold. Otherwise, it'll be gone & you'll regret it!
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