Converting sump to sump/refugium

[Uncarved Block]

I currently have an AGA megaflow sump with bioballs for filtration (and of course plenty of lr in the main tank), but its just a bare sump right now.

Theoretically, to double up as a refugium, would I just have to add a light, macroalgae, sand bend, and inverts? I'm just concerned how well the coepods and amphipods (sp ??) and other things will be able to get into the tank from the refugium - will the mechanical filtration (water passes through a sponge filter before being pumped to the main tank) filter them out so they stay only in the sump?

[jojo22]

Yes you would need to remove the sponge which would be a good thing even if you don't add a refuge! sponges (used for filtration, not the live kind) require lots of cleaning, I would say at least once a week, or else the become nitrate factorys.

[Uncarved Block]

That makes sense, however my LFS told me that having a sponge filter around the pump helps to prevent it from debris clogging it and causing it to fail.

I'm kind of stuck here, should I just get a seperate refugium??

[Ghost_knife]

wrap pantyhose round the inlet. I remove sponge from mine. pushes more wata anyways.