Alright so I have decided to get back into the hobby and am planning on a 20H set up. I will be using an All Glass Aquarium tank. As far as lighting goes I have a 20in Sunpod 150w HQI, I'll be ordering a Phoenix 14K bulb for it and it will also be suspended from the ceiling. Was thinking 8 inches above the water? Any suggestions their? And I was thinking either a screen top or glass lid for the top of the tank. Which is more desirable? I was planning on painting the back black with krylon fusion spray paint. I also wanted to cut a piece of acrylic and put it in the corner as show below with some baffles to let water in on the left side. Is it safe to paint this black with the Krylon Fusion as well? It will be in the water.

Click to view attachment

I wanted to put a AquaClear HOB filter on the back with the intake tube behind the black wall. I planed on modding it for a section to put in some Carbon with some Filterfloss. Another section could be used for an additional room for another fuge and then I would also like to put the Aquatic Life Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115 in that section as a few people have done before.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewItem.asp..._campaign=mdhfl

As far as the powerhead was concerned I was thinking one other since I would have flow from the AC. The ones I am considering are the Koralia Evolution, Nano or 2. Anyone have any advice on what would work best for my plan? And behind the acrylic divider I was planning on having it be a Fuge with some LR rubble and Cheato. I would also put a heater back their, not sure which yet. Just something 100Watts.

As far as livestock and everything goes I will have 15-20 pounds of LR and a 1-1 1/2 inch deep sandbed. Not sure on what grade or type yet, which do most use? I would like to keep LPS, SPS and softies. I love zoo's lol. And on the specific CUC I am not sure as well. need to do a little research. But I will have a cleaner shrimp as far as inverts go. And for fish I was thinking one small yellow clown goby or Bi-color blenny. 1-3 firefish depending on if I get 1,2 or any clowns.

Any suggestions, observations, comments, advice or help is always greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Alex

A screen top will allow for more air exchange and cooling.

It's fine to use, even in the water.

A Vortech MP10 would be good for SPS.

I'd skip the LR rubble (LR in your display is all you need).

A fine grained CaribSea aragonite sand is good.

Wow you are the MAN! Haha! Is their any other powerhead than the MP10 you would recommend? College student with tight budget here lol. Also would you recommend the AC70 or 110 for my specific set up? And does everything else look like it is set up well? Any other comments or suggestion you or anyone has? Thanks for the response as well I really appropriate it.

Alex

Your welcome Alex. Sure the Koralias are good and relatively inexpensive, I'd shoot for 40 to 50 times (800 to 1000gph) total turnover. Either power filter should be fine for chemical and mechanical media. I might even look at putting the skimmer behind the false wall.

So the Koralia 3 would work pretty well them? Or do you suggest 2 smaller at opposite ends of the tank? I haven't thought about putting the skimmer their though. I assume I world need to make a divider to separate the fuge from the skimmer. But that would give me the opportunity to have more room in the AC for either media or extra fuge room. Which would you suggest? I was also thinking about getting some submersible lights 24/7 lighting for the cheato that will be behind the wall. Any thoughts on this?

Two (425gph) KNanos would be good. Some egg crate to separate the skimmer from the Cheato would suffice. Submersible lights should be adequate for additional light, but I don't see a need for two Cheato refugiums.

Out of the 2 K Nanos or the Koralia 3 which would you recommend? And I would probably only set up one, preferably behind the false wall and use the AC70 for some Carbon and filter floss and possibly some other form of filtration. Anything I am missing that you or anyone is aware of?

I like two powerheads to get more chaotic flow, but one powerhead plus power filter would also work. A K3 is a lot bigger than a KNano.

I would recommend two K1s personally. I have two K1s on my 20H and think it is the perfect amount of flow.

I think I'm going to go with two, just not sure on which precisely yet lol. Thanks again for all the responses and advice! I truly appreciate it.

K1s = 400gph (~ $38)
425gph KNano = 425gph (~ $26)
Note, the KNano now comes in two varieties (original 240gph and new 425gph)

Smart man I'll probably go with the 2 KNanos with the 425gph!