filtration, filtration, filtration.....

[Fishieness]

do you mean how many gallons it is rated for for your skimmer?
almost 100% of those claims are complete BS. i started off with a coralife super skimmer 65 on my 40. it did okay, but i still wanted more. now i have an aqua C remora with upgraded pump that is rated up to like a 120 or something. not completly satisfied.
and to prove that point, a seaclone 150 will not come close to producing the skimmate that my old coralife 65 would.
i would personaly recomend getting the biggest skimmer you can (obviously.... there is a time when it gets to be overkill. haha.) but as far as ratings, how much you should go over by will depend on what you are keeping, how heavily stocked yoru tank will be, and the type and brand of the skimmer

 

[joebcarr]

yeah, i'm a "the bigger the better" guy anyways. i'm guessing something for a 300 or so, but now i wonder on the manufacturer....

if i use a sump, does the skimmer pull water from the tank, or does it syphon?? i was thinkin something like this...

skimmer-refugium-return

am i on the right track? how do i match water in with water out??

 

[Fishieness]

if you get an external skimmer, then you will have to do some drilling, plumming, and bulkhead fittins in and out of your sump. or youc an just build a spacve in your sump, buy an "in-sump" model and drop it in!
it will jsut pick up water directly form inside the sump which is fed through the siphone or by gravity form the overflow
and that sounds like the right track