Wet/Dry to Refugium

[Noob]

I have tried this a couple times before with no success so i always turn back, but now i want to try it again.
When ever i did have a refugium the chaeto never grew and would just float to the top. I have tried using a MH light, pc, and regular light bulb. I have tried no sand bed, 4" sand bed, and 1" sand bed. I have even tried it with a korilla nano, maxijet, and no powerhead.

So can someone shoot me some ideas on what i should try or what is working for you. The area i have set up for the refugium measure 1'x1'x18"tall

[Big_Pun]

how big is your return pump and what size tank do you have??

[Noob]

Its a 55 gallon tank and my return pump is a mag 5 i believe, but the return pump will be in a different chamber.

[Noob]

Still need help with the above...

Also have another question.
For the intake chamber would it be best to fill with rumble rock or put a 4"-6" sand bed?

[alton]

Look at this website for Ideas, he builds and sells them.
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html
Also I would not run my full flow through the fuge, most sumps keep the fuge seperate and only allow a gentle flow through them. I used a valve to control my flow