New-Need help with setup

Hi all, I am getting back into the hobby after 5 years off. I had an Aquapod24, five years ago and have been itching to get back in. I have been reading and researching the 3reef forums for about a month now and am getting closer to start a new reef tank. All though I had a nano aquarium before (all stock), I am completely new to the hobby and want to go a different direction with this aquarium and need lots of help and advice.

SIZE- I am looking at a 40 breeder tank, I can go slightly bigger but like the dimensions of the 40 breeder. Is there a tank SLIGHTLY bigger with the same kind of dimensions (short, wide and long)?

I plan on drilling the tank, do you suggest I drill one side or the middle with this size tank?

LIGHTING- I need big help here. I want good lighting right from the get go as I don't want to have to upgrade or wish I would have spent alittle more money months down the road. I don't might spending alittle more here for quality but also don't need the most expensive lighting nor have the money for it. I plan on having a mixed tank. What kind of light, brand, wattage etc. do you suggest?

Skimmer- I want something reliable without breaking the bank. Suggestions?

SUMP- I am wanting to do a 20 gallon. What do you suggest as far as compartments, filtration and so on.

PUMPS- What brand and size and model would be best?

OVERFLOW- Again clueless about this. I want to make sure I do not have overflow of water onto my floor if a malfunction takes place. Will a 20 gallon sump catch overflow water in the sitiuation my return pump fails?

-CIRCULATION- What do you suggest? Size, GPH, brand???

I plan on taking this process slow and do not plan on adding any fish or coral until my tank is 100% stabilized. My goal is not to have a full tank in 2 months but to have a beautiful tank in years to come. I look forward to ANY advice you all can give specific to my wants and needs. I want to do this right the first time, even if it costs a little more or if I have to go slower.
Thank you all for the help. This site has been great.

 

That is a doozy of a post! You may want to break it down into multiple posts in each of the relevant sections of 3reef to make it easier for folks to respond.

To make this easier, I will tell you what my ideal 40g breeder set-up would be (with reasonable costs) and you can look at those options:

40g Breeder w/ glass-holes 750gph overflow box
20g Long Sump with skimmer chamber, then refugium, then return chamber
Reefbreeders Photon 24 LED lighting
2 Ecotech MP10's (circulation)
Reef Octopus NWB 110 skimmer
Mag Drive 5 Return Pump

 

Thanks for the response. You gave me somewhere to start from. Also, I will be sure to break it down into sections on the forum.

 

To make this easier, I will tell you what my ideal 40g breeder set-up would be (with reasonable costs) and you can look at those options:

40g Breeder w/ bean coast to coast overflow
29g Sump with a skimmer and return (2 chambers)
Reefbreeders Photon 24 LED lighting
1 Jaebo's WP25 (circulation)
Reef Octopus NWB 110 skimmer
Mag Drive 5 Return Pump

Pat was spot on with what i would do with the circulation but the wp-25 looks really promising and will save you money. You will always want a bigger sump, and my 20L isn't high enough for backflow durring outages, I wish ist was a 29g which has the same footprint. For lights I would ideally go with a radion pro (950) but realistically I wuold try the new AI Hydra lights, they look awesome (400)

 

Thanks for the help, I will also post this in the lighting forum but do you personally think the AI Hydra lights are going to be better than the reefbreeders photon lights?

 

Have never used a mag drive pump so I have no comparison but I am quite happy with my sicce syncra 2.0,I use it for my return and also to feed my biopellet reactor.It did hum noticably when new but soon quieted down so that it now can't be heard over the hum of the skimmer pump which is pretty quiet also(cadlights pipeless).

 

Well they are far more desirable to me.

 

Instead of the 40B have you looked at a Deep Sea Aquatics 65? Very similar dimensions, although more costly.