New Setup Questions

[greasemonkey]

I recently bought a 29g to set up with my 20g and a few other items and want some of yalls advice.

I started out with a 20g with a 3" sand bed, 1 250 gph powerhead, a Marineland powerfilter, and a 175w 20k XM.

I have a 29g for a display, 20g for the sump, and a 5g minibow for the fuge. The sump underneath will house a quiet one 3000, and 20 lbs of rubble rock, a protien skimmer and necessary plumbing. The display I would like to be bare bottom, drilled for an overflow, and HOB return plumbing and 40 lbs of live rock. The fuge will placed above the tank, and fed by 3/4" tubing, with a ball valve for flow adjustment, and returning to the display. I would like to keep lps and sps, maybe zoos across the bottom. As for fish, I currently plan to get an Algae Blenny. Havent decided on others. Now for the questions.

Can I use a plenum DSB in my sump? I understand flow cant disturb the sand too much.
My tiny fuge is too small for an effective DSB but with both together can it be done?
What size should I make my overflow?
The pump is rated for 780gph, it rises 3' to the display and 1' higher to the fuge. I estimate 475-550 gph to the display.
I Bought a new reflector from hellolights to go in a DIY canopy I made, but I am wonder about using tin foil to cover the rest of the inside. Will this create more heat?

These are just for starters. I would like any suggestions, ideas, questions if I am too vague. Thanks, greasemonkeysatx.

[greasemonkey]

bmp

[Ram_Puppy]

well, Joshua is probably right about the DSB, in order for one to work properly ther have to be aerobic and anerobic areas within the bed, and I suspect unless you were using a really fine grade media, you will have to sacrifice to much of your tank to sand for it to be realistic... remember, your looking at at least 3 inches, and on any of these tanks that relates to a lot of volume. instead of sand, I would reccomend going to a fish store and buying live rock rubble out of their curing tanks, in San Antonio, Aquatic Warehouse is good for this. (You should update your profile and include your location in it!)

Oh, and unless you already have it, I wouldn't use a quietone pump, I know some people here have used them with success, but they don't have a stellar reputation on places like reefcentral and wetwebmedia. Your tanks are small enough that you should be able to get by with a Mag Drive sitting in your sump. My understanding is that quietones are typically pond pumps, and not all models are rated for salt water.

[greasemonkey]

So scratch the DSB. Should I use more than 1lbs per gal. in rubble rock? I am less than a mile from AW (will update profile, thanks). I do already have the pump, on a closed loop until after the move. Will have to look intoa mag. Thanx

[Richard]

Some recent tests (don't remember the guys name) show equal denitrification from 1 1/2" - 2" of sugar size sand (Aragamax, southdown) as you get with DSB.

I don't really like the look of bare bottom but I would either go with the sugar size sand or bare bottom before I'd do the rubble rock. I would think that would trap alot of detritus and become a source of problems.