I am currently working on a 20 long setup. The original plan was to use another 20 long as a sump/fuge to place in the bottom of the stand, but it won't fit. The dimensions on the inside are big enough, but the opening to place the tank in the stand is to small. I decided to use my current AP12 as a sump/fuge.

The aquapod is currently stocked, and the new tank would have to have a cycle... right?

I think I have 3 options:

1) Setup the 20 with no sump, just a powerhead, aquascape, sand it, and let cycle. Once cycled, move everything from the AP12 into the 20. Clean out the AP12, fill with all my sump/fuge goodies, then connect plumbing, and let grow.

2) Empty the AP12 into the 20, add rock and sand to fill, then setup the AP12, and voila! Because the bio-load should match the livestock, unless I get some nasty rock.

3) The better idea that one of you gurus will share.

This, but make sure it's dry sand and dry rock. It's essentially a water change, your water doesn't realize it's in a differently shaped glass box. Give it a few weeks to stabilize before you add anything new.

I was thinking about ordering from macrorocks.com and getting some sand from a local supply. Once I get the 20 aquascaped, I could fill with water, and put in my live rock, live sand, CUC, coral banded, and Orangetail damsel... correct?

I wonder if this place down the road from me has some porous rock. Its called Wrede Rocks. My step-dad gets a discount from there. What do you think my odds of finding some base rock would be?

Marco rock is sweet!! I used it in both my tanks.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=214850

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=213300
MAKE SURE TO CURE THE ROCK!!!! Don't skip this step.

The sand that marco rocks sells is very pretty, but VERY fine sand. You can not use it with a lot of flow.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I also love Marco Rocks good price with fast shipping. I agree with you option number 2 just a big water change

I have heard nothing but good about macro, so it was a pretty easy decision. The only thing I need to factor in is the fact that it is dry rock. The volume displaced by 20lbs of live rock is less then 20lbs of dry rock, since the water absorbed in the live rock adds to the weight. 20lbs should be more then enough to aquascape both the tank and fuge.

Do you think that is a good idea? Using the aquapod12 as a fuge/sump? Only 2 problems that I can think of.

1) Making holes in the lid for the drain and return. Not too much of a hassle, a standard bit should shred the plastic away right?. And since I am gonna be using flexible tubing, it won't need to be as precise if I were to try and fit a pvc elbow in there.

2) Fitting a return pump to give me 300-400 gph in the pump area on the AP12. I could always toss in a mag5 in front of the overflow, but that could suck in the macro algaes... pureed chaeto anyone?

I misspelled it again! I thought I would have corrected myself, but no, I typed macro instead of marco again. Sorry guys, you can feed me to the sharks...