please help me figure out how to setup my new used tank/sump/refuge

[Candi]

I picked up a used 30g oceanic tank this past weekend, which included a CPR overflow, 5g used as a sump (undrilled), and approx 7g acrylic refug (2 open bulkheads, one sealed). The seller told me all I would need was a pump to put into the sump which would push the water back up to the tank.

Here are photos of what I have to work with, as he had it the overflow draining into the refuge, then into the sump where the pump sends it back up to the tank.

I'm confused though... as you can see on the refuge(anyone know what it was originally, it's machined and someone crudely removed a middle section) anyways the bulkhead where the overflow drains in is at the same exact level as the one where I'm guessing the water flows out of to the sump... which means the water level will have to stay really high in there for this to work right? Should there be some sort of pump to move the water from the refuge to the 5g sump?

I welcome any ideas on how to best set this up, this is my first experience using an overflow/sump/refug.

Thanks
Candi

 

[sinkingbeach]

If your going with the same setup as the second picture, send the overflow of the tank into the middle bulkhead of pic 2, send a pipe of some type from the left bulkhead to the sump, as the refugium overflows it will push the water down into the sump The pump in the sump will push water back into the main tank with the hose on the left side of pic 1.

 

[sinkingbeach]

Gravity will feed your sump

 

[Candi]

so you don't think there will be any issues having to have the refuge so full (the "drain" bulkhead to the sump is set at the exact same height as the bulkhead fed by the overflow)I just feel like that hole shold be lower, guess it won't matter though?

 

[sinkingbeach]

The only problem I foresee is the drain bulkhead from the fuge to the sump getting clogged, if you plan to have snails down there I'd put some type of mesh in front of that hole, and keep and eye on your macro growth.