My first reef tank AIO Build. Please help.

[NorCalReef2020]

Hi Everyone,
This forum has provided a lot of good information and insights and I am hoping to get some advice and feedback on how to setup this used AIO aquarium I purchased. I bought it from the parents of someone who had gone off to college so they weren't that helpful in how it was setup but from some of the accessories they gave me it seems like it was setup to have a wet/dry trickle filtration system. There was a tray with small holes in it that sit over sections 3 and 4 with bio balls below it and another tray that went over section 5. I would like to set the aquarium up to use the "Berlin" method with Live Rock in the display tank and a protein skimmer in the back filter area with possibly being able to add a refugium in one of the sections down the line.
You can see that the overflow is on the right and then it goes into the first chamber. I was planning on creating a DIY media shelf for Section 1. Sections 3, 4 and 5 have slots/teeth at the bottom that allow the water to flow between them. You can also see there is a black water "return" channel that runs through sections 5, 4 and 3 that also has gaps between it and the section dividers.

For the return they have a pump (see below on left) that pushes water through that black channel and then out small holes on the other side.

Here you can see the holes that let the water flow back into the display tank side.

I have a few questions I am hoping people can provide some feedback on.

1. If I put a protein skimmer in section 3 and water can freely flow to section 5 where the return is, could that be a problem for the water level or for having water that isn't skimmed go back into the display tank?

2. If I put a protein skimmer in section 3 could I later add a refugium in section 4 or will it be a problem that water can freely flow between 3, 4 and 5 through the teeth?

3. Do you think I could use an epoxy resin fill in the teeth and the gaps between that black return channel and the acrylic dividers? Any other suggestions on how to fill in the teeth and gaps between the sections to make them more sealed off? I was thinking of just adding piece of acrylic over them and bonding it using Weld-On 16 but then there are still the gaps around the return channel.

I would love to hear everyone's suggestions and feedback. Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[Ron Reefman]

bump for more comments

1. If I put a protein skimmer in section 3 and water can freely flow to section 5 where the return is, could that be a problem for the water level or for having water that isn't skimmed go back into the display tank?
Water level issue for the skimmer can be cured with a stand under the skimmer to raise it up. Having un-skimmed water go back to the tank isn't even an issue to consider.

2. If I put a protein skimmer in section 3 could I later add a refugium in section 4 or will it be a problem that water can freely flow between 3, 4 and 5 through the teeth?
I don't see it as a problem. If it becomes one, you can always change the teeth by blocking them.

3. Do you think I could use an epoxy resin fill in the teeth and the gaps between that black return channel and the acrylic dividers? Any other suggestions on how to fill in the teeth and gaps between the sections to make them more sealed off? I was thinking of just adding piece of acrylic over them and bonding it using Weld-On 16 but then there are still the gaps around the return channel.
Keep it simple. Add the acrylic if you need to and use epoxy in the difficult spots.

 

[Reef-junky]

I would want the skimmed water to go through a bubble trap so you don’t get bubbles in the DT.