Opinions on new tank sump setup

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40yreefer

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Got a new house, so I'm setting up a new tank. I'm looking for opinions on a change to the sump setup. The tank is a new Innovative Marine Ext 200 gal with an IM NUVO RFS 50 74 gal sump. It has a small return/drain chamber, a large skimmer chamber, a refugium section, then a return pump section. I will be running a JBJ 1/4 HP chiller and a Lifeguard aquatics 55 watt UV sterilizer. The return DC pump is a IM Mighty Jet rated at 2656 GPH, but probably closer to 1800 GPH with head losses. If I run the return flow through the chiller and the UV then the flow restrictions cause the return flow to be way lower than what I desire.
So, I've added a Reef Octopus Varios 8 DC pump in the Skimmer chamber to pump through the Chiller and UV and return to the inlet area of the main return pump. Hopefully this allows me to vary the flow through the UV sterilizer for Algae/bacteria or have low flow for protozoa, while still being in the min/max flow range of the chiller. This flow would bypass the Refugium chamber and allow a lower flow for growing macroalgae. I have a 1" Hydros flow meter in the UV/chiller line. The difference between the UV flow and the return flow would be the refugium flow.
I also have a 6 controller Hydros collective control system hooked up so I can add any protections needed.
Do you think it will work or any unforeseen problems.

Thanks for any replies!
 
Sounds great if overly complicated. May I ask what necessitates the chiller? Are you going for a cold water system?
 
No, but like you, I live in Texas. My last tank was a 180 gal SPS and the chiller ran quite a bit. It used an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower T5 fixture which grew SPS to the top of the tank. This new tank I went with 3 Kessil A500x fixtures to start with so they may not put in as much heat.
PS: I would love to do a cold water tank sometime. I've seen some beautiful ones in the Seattle area.
 

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