What should I do with the extra space in my sump?

[Literallyhydro]

Hi everyone,

I have a 125 gallon mixed reef with a 33 gallon long used a sump.
I have about a 12"x 14" space available right after the protein skimmer in the drain section. While I normally would turn it into a refugium, but that would require me installing new baffles. I can't get the sump out of the stand without taking the tank off.

The only thing I have in the sump is filter socks, my protein skimmer (AquaMaxx ConeS CO-2 skimmer) and the baffles over to the return chamber. I also recently started dosing with Nopox.

With that much leftover room, what would you do to effectively utilize this sump? I realize that you guys don't know my tank nearly as well as your own, but given the situation, what would you do? Let's hear some opinions.

 

[reefes pieces]

I suggest Ceramic media if you don't have a need to use the space for reactors. I'm a big believer in biological filtration.

 

[ritter6788]

I suggest Ceramic media if you don't have a need to use the space for reactors. I'm a big believer in biological filtration.

This or just extra live rock. Rock or media in the dark will start to grow all kinds of good filter feeders like fan worms and sponges that will help filter your water. It's called a cryptic zone.

 

[cloak]

I would probably just keep it bare. No use cluttering things up if all is well the way it is IMO. I don't know how much rock you've got in that 125 gallon tank, but adding more rock or some ceramic media to this small compartment is going to make that much of difference.

 

[Literallyhydro]

I may have went a little overboard with rock in the display when first setting it up. I'm around 200lb of rock in the display. Since I won't be able to run a refugium, could I potentially see any gains by running an algae reactor? I've seen those floating around on the internet too.

 

[mtraylor]

I agree. Nothing. Your done. You could always put a little frag rack down there or a place for healing corals etc if you have an extra light.

 

[chefjpaul]

Either nothing or I'd put a scrubber over the area or an algae reactor in it.

 

[Literallyhydro]

Thank you for the input everyone. I decided to leave the area bare so I could expand with a reactor if my system ever needs it in the future.