I have found a lot  of great info over the past month.

I'm going to do 90 to 110 gal reef tank and I'm convinced of the pluses of a sump with a 

refugium. But I'm am a little confused about the plumbing. Such as the difference between a open loop 

and a closed loop. I was also wondering what the differences between LED's and T5's. 

Oh yea before I forget I here great things about elite aquatics Skimmers. Is it all true and what would be a 

good pump. Oh yea how does an auto top off work into the picture. I would like to put together a system that can be added to with the proper equipment as needed and contains as many fail safes to protect from total failure.

I would love to set up some time to get schooled.

I have finals coming up in 2 weeks but will have a week of after that before the summer semester that I would be able to get away.

Thanks for being so helpful

I would like to do a mixed reef Sps,lps, softies and invertebrates and my wife and son would be very mad 

if nemo and Dory were not included.

I want to do a large tank cause my wife said I could and I should take her up on that before she changes her mind. I also would like to keep tangs and fish that would feel comfortable as well.

As far as Fail Safes here is what I was thinking as well. I have heard you can start out really with a sump, a return pump and a protein skimmer. I just have not be able to to see how people have plumbed them. I definitely would like to keep a refugium as I see the benefits of the extra biology to the eco system.

I here a lot of people adding a lot of equipment under their tanks and then running out of room. So I would like to plan ahead as to keep a safe power supply to all equipment. I would like to plumb it the first time with that other equipment in mind such auto top off dosing pumps, chiller and U.v. sterilizer, . All though I think the U.v sterilizer would be a begininning purchase as well.

A while back I read an article about the benefits of a raised sand bed using egg crate and some screen and some 90 degree elbows and so now I'm wondering what you all think about that as an idea. If it is a good Idea I have also heard of the benefits of have a raised aqua scape as to not allow detirus to get caught under the rock pile and allow for extra hiding places for animal life.

I have heard of different methods of doing the overflow box like the (Herby) but have no clue yet to whats going on there except its a quieter system. 

I have heard of people using LED's and others using T5'S and yet others using a combination of the two.

I have heard the LED'S are cooler as far as the heat they produce and they take less electricity to run, but I want whats best for the coral. So I would like to your thoughts on that.

Really by fail safes I mean if the power goes out and things like that everything doesn't die and I would like to try to keep large amounts of water of my floor. 

I have wanted to get into this hobby for a long time. I love the idea of having a piece of the ocean and I think it will be a great project for my son and I to learn.

Adam

I have learned a lot for it and I will continue to follow your updates.

Congrats on keeping with it.

I have done a lot of studying to get ready for finals and have the day off work

I am totally stoked for this.

I would also like to thank all of you for the thread I have been linked to I think I have learned so much.

So What have I learned.

I don't think I will be doing a raised sand bed rather opting to do a 2-3 inch sand bead. I have been told by LFS guys that a U.v sterilizer was a must have but have learned that with a good bacteria start its not really needed tell latter. I will get one eventually but will probably only run it a day or 2 out of the month.

Here is a great question though. How does everybody feel about LED's opposed to T5 lighting? I here LED's are fairly new and I was just wondering whats the real deal.