From '88 to '95, I was owned and operated an aquarium shop in Durham, NC. I did fresh, outdoor pond, marine and reef tanks. While there we were experimenting with a new item called a protein skimmer. We drove it with wooden air stones. A refugium had never been discussed (or heard of) although we did keep macro algae in some of our sumps for reasons that were better understood only much later. I've not enjoyed salt since then although I did have my 125 set up as a heavily planted fresh tank a couple years ago. I used a 20 lb. CO2 cylinder with 3 diffusers and literally harvested plants by the fist full. We've just finished building a new home and now I'm ready to get back into a reef tank. I've only been a member here a few days but have learned so much. I'm amazed at how far the hobby has come in such a short time. I'll be using the 125 with a hang on the back skimmer box feeding a 40 long aquarium I'll be using for my refugium. The center two feet will be used for the actual refugium with the first 12 inches used for a prefilter and protein skimmer and the last 12 inches for the return pump, as a start. Oh, and btw, my shop was named Carabensaras. Cara was my wife, Ben, my son, and Sara, my daughter. Thanks for having me. rog