Need Plumbing/Filtration Help

Hi, I just got my first tank and I want to set things up properly. The tank measures 34" wide x 22" deep x 24" tall. It is drilled at the bottom and twice in the back near the top. I'm unsure on the best way to set up my sump and how I should plumb it.

The sump I got from a local aquarium society auction. I just took some pics of everything so I'll post those. Will this configuration work for the sump? The pump is a RIO 3100 and is piped out in what seems to me like a pretty restricting manner, should I re-plumb this? What kind of media should I put in the sump if any at all? I would also like to plumb in a 10 or 20 gallon with a DSB and place that next to the sump.

The bulkheads on the back holes in the tank are 1" but I think the one on the bottom is 3/4". Will the back ones be plumbed as returns?

The bottom hole is capped off right now, but I can uncap it, there is no overflow shroud around it like I see in most peoples tanks, should I build one in or is there another way to set it up?

The other equipment I have for my tank is a nice 30" light w/ 1 250 MH, 2 65w actinics, and 4 dual blue mood leds. I've also got a coralife super skimmer needle wheel protein skimmer for 125 gallons on the way, as well as a refractometer and a 300w titanium heater and 4 maxi-jet 1200s. Is there anything else I need to get? I plan to keep corals and fish, as well as a variety of other inverts.

For rock, I made a bunch of aragocrete and it has been soaking in fresh water for over 2 months now so it should be ready to use. I was planning on seeding it with GARF grunge. Has anyone else here had success with making their own aragocrete and seeding it with GARF grunge? I want to have a nice fine sand bed also.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Not sure of the exact best way to re-plumb that system, but I'd try using the lower holes to plumb up some standpipes and overflows to the water surface level. Then use the upper holes for your sump returns. There might be a better way than that, but you'll have to find out what works best for you.

 

you should use bio balls just my opinion some would say different the equipment sounds good just get a good set of test kits and you might want to get a phosban reactor to use granular media rowaphos will take care of your phos problem and after it is gone you can use other media it is a good investment for a quick fix

 

I've heard lots of bad things about bio balls. What are my other options?

 

After reading up more on bio balls I've decided that it doesn't seem like a bad option. All you've gotta do is be sure to clean em up. I'll figure out some way to put a pre-filter pad on top of the bio ball tower or something that can be replaced easily.

I think I'll want to build a refugium to sit next to the sump and flow into the sump. So I just T off of the main drain line that's running into the sump and direct that T into one side of the refugium(let's say a 10 gallon I have laying around) and then flow out the other side of the 10 gallon back into the sump. Does that sound right? Should I put my protein skimmer in the sump as well, or plumb that in somewhere else in the line. I want to do a DSB in the 10 gallon refugium and put some algae in there too.

Does this sound good? Anyone have any advice. I'll try to draw it up sometime in the next couple of days. I know it's easier with a visual aid.