Misti,

Congrats on the tank build! It looks like you have given it a lot of thought and planning. This is just one of the things I love about this hobby.

I strongly agree that inline, not submerged, is the BEST way to go for return if you are still in the planning stages. It keeps the pump and a lot of the heat out of the water. I have had the salt water crack and corrode through the rubber power cords before also... Granted, it was a cheap Rio pump that had been in the sump for three years, but why submerge the pump if you don't have to.

I love my Eheim and I run it inline. I can still feel the heat coming off it though and I am glad it is not sitting in my sump heating the water up even more than necessary. I also have a lot of left over pvc pipe, fittings, and stuff you are welcome to when you are ready. No charge, just come n get it.

Although I am extremely jealous of your job, you are also welcome to any of my frags when you are ready.

Sean =-) J