I have a HOB skimmer too. Why not run it in your sump if you have the room?

It depends on how you want to control your nutrients. I opted against a refugium and am using live rock as my main media and then just carbon dosing (and with foz down) for my nutrient control. That is a bag of carbon in the sock. I have the option of bio pellets or zeovit in the future.



I like the look of a minimalist tank so I try to hide as much rock as possible. That gives all my tangs and angels room to swim. Yes I will upgrade to a 200 gallon in a couple of years (for you police out there).