Please Review my possible new Reef!

[gwax]

Hey friends,
So, I'm just getting back into the hobby after about 10+ years.....I decided I want to set up a Reef in my office (since I spend so much time there). There have been so many advances since I was a kid with a fish tank! I picked up a copy of "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist"....been going to ALL the LFS, and been reading the forums here and elsewhere for a couple months. I'm being EXTRA thoughtfull as I want to be 100% positive with the equipment before I go live. I'm almost ready to purchase everything, would like some opinions by experienced Reefers here. My goal is to keep some reef safe fish, inverts, and soft corals. Not considering any SPS at this point.
Here's the dream so far-- please let me know your thoughts before I buy!
90 gal acrylic w/ canopy and fans (48x18x24)-best size tank for my space
4x96w PC lights (1:1 actinic/daylight) + 18 Blue LED's
approx 100lbs of mixed live rock from various regions
mixture of coarse-dry aragonite and live sand
1/4 HP Chiller --either JBJ or Current Prime Tower
Now-- here's some critical points for me....
For sure going to use a 30" sump and keep all pumps, etc. inside
Looking at Mag Drives/Marineland Utility Pumps for returns and chiller.
But here's the dilema- my LFS is into the new Marineland sump and Pro 100Protein Skimmer. They have had great results with this equipment for a year or so. I've read so many negative reviews about the Seaclones I'm kinda nervous. The Pro's look great, and are needle wheel. Also, the sump is really cool but the skimmer box is only 7" x 7" x 7"....so IF I ever want to change skimmers not much will fit in their- MAYBE I can squeez in a Coralife SS, or a Tunze. Really unsure if it is a safe move...part of me feels really comfortable with the set up though.
My other thought would be to get a simple Berlin Sump with a micron sock and 2 large chambers-- then get the skimmers I know are good like an ASM, Aqua C-EV, or Coralife SS.
So-- any suggestions? Everything else I feel pretty good about. Was thinking about using Ice Mountain bottled water to start (abundant at my office) and maybe later getting my own RO/DI unit.
Thanks!

 

[wattsupdoc]

I would go with T5's instead of the PC's. They will last longer, give you more choices when it comes to different colors and you can, if you have enough of them, with individual reflectors, keep ANY thing you want. I know you said, no sps's right now, that's fine, but what about a clam? or an anemone? You might want one of those huh? They need more than what PC's will give. I would go with a 4 bulb retro kit with individual reflectors, you can add to it later if you want to add more light need things.

For60 bucks and the price of some glass baffles and silicone(another 15 maybe). You can do a DIY sump/fuge. It wont take more than 30 min. and it's easy as pie. That's what I would do. I can help you design one if you like.
Look into the Octopus line of skimmers. The MSX Extremes are the same skimmer as the Octopus Extremes, exactly. Really for the money, you cant do better than the Octo extremes and the MSX Extremes. The Octo NW skimmers are priced even lower, but need some modding to perform the same as the Extremes and use a bit more electricity. However they can be modded fairly easily to perform like the Extremes. Of course your LFS is partial to the Marineland skimmer, they want to sell them don't they?

 

[gwax]

Totally! I definatley want to go with some anenome's and maybe a clam (they're sooo cool, especially how they react to light)....it's T5's for sure then!
I'll think about doing the sump myself. I've been somewhat intimidated by the thought of doing it. Would you siggest I hang a micron sock? How would that be secured?
I'll check out the Octopus...a lot of people like them from what I've seen.