help build my tank so I dont miss anything

[kingweb50]

I used to have a nice reef tank and got rid of it because I did not have time to keep up with it. I am ready to start up again. What I want is a 29g biocube hqi. I want to add a 10g refugium with protien skimmer underneath. I also plan on getting a small aquipure filter to run off the refugium too. What skimmer and pumps etc should I get so I can place one large order and get everything ready at once?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Personally, I think you would be better suited with a standard 30g tank that's 36" long. (easier to find lights) I don't feel like biocubes are ever worth the money.
I'd also build a custom stand to fit a customized 20g long sump. A nice little tunze protein skimmer, or even an octopus skimmer would be a worthy investment.
Definitely get a refractometer and have a way to get pure RO/DI water - and have the ability to test it with a TDS meter.
In something small like this, if you like the "simple" looks of other tanks, I have heard really good reviews of Vortech MP10 powerheads for tanks under 50g. I suggest looking into this.
A salt mixing container that is food grade and a large enough maxijet powerhead to mix salt with.
I'd also put a turkey baster on the list, as well as a digital temperature probe and a decent digital timer (like those $30 digital timers by coralife with the day/night outlets and full power.
Having some basic maintenance supplies like an old modified credit card to scrape the glass, a mag float, and about six or seven foot of vinyl tubing for water changes. A gravel vac would do the same thing as the vinyl tubing - which I recommend the gravel vac because I am a big proponant of keeping a clean sandbed.
Buy course sand if you can. Very course sand - not crushed coral - will help when you gravel siphon the sandbed and be fine enough for some sand sifting organisms.

 

[kingweb50]

I am not set on the biocube I just thought it was great it had a mh light set up since I wouldnt hang it from the ceiling. It will be placed in a room that is visible so I need a clean set up look. I would like everything but the powerbeads to be hidden underneath.

 

[saxman]

I think going with a std 29 gal as Seth mentioned is a good idea...you'll save lots of money on the tank and stand, and be able to put it towards other equipment.
We own six "plug-n-play" setups, and they work great for our purposes, which is QT and/or growout tanks. We have a HQI model, but I yanked the HQI and added LED's. We also have a LED model, as well as PC models. IME, the LED models are PLENTY bright, but it depends on what you're keeping. For our purposes, I actually put some window film over the light cover to cut the light down a bit, as that setup is used as a lionfish QT/growout setup. like I said, they work fine and go up easily, but since you're wanting to add a sump/fuge, you should go with a "standard" tank, as knowing what i know about them, I wouldn't have a PnP if it was my only/main setup.
I'm not a fan of messing with a non-CC substrate once it's established, but I do recommend using either #1 or #3 grade aragonite instead of sugar-fine/oolitic sand. It "lays down" much better (no sandstorms), looks really nice, and doesn't trap detritus like CC.