Planning stage ????s

[CDT]

I'm looking into setting up a reef tank, but don't know exactly where to begin. So I'll start with some questions.
1) I have two 29 gallon tanks, w\ two canister filters. Would it be possible to connect the two using the canisters by putting splitting the input\output between the two tanks (ie. the input tube from a filter to one tank and the output to the other tank using two filters) One tank will sit above the other one. Am I crazy or will this work? (I'm trying to save money by not having to buy an overflow box and return pump)

2) I'm interested in keeping some mushroom and leather corals. What type of lighting would be best? Would 2 110w compact flourescents work? (This would be for the display tank, not sump)

3) Is it necessary to have lighting on the sump?

4) What are the advantages\disadvantages to having a plenum under the sand bed?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[Boogiechillin]

1) I'd ask Slipknottin about this one as he's the equipment guy, but that might work. I see it as being a little risky/problem prone, but feasible. A lot depends on how fast the filters can process water and move it between tanks.

2) 2x110w units above a single 29g tank would let you keep a lot more than mushrooms and soft corals (like leathers). You can easily keep a wide range of stony corals as well. If you are only interested in the soft corals and a handful of hardy stony corals, you could easily go with a single 110W and still be fine.

3) Only if you have something photosynthetic in the sump. If not, you can certainly leave it unlit.

4) It's a pain to setup and is largely unnecessary when compared to just a plain deep sand bed (DSB). A DSB has been shown to denitrify just as well, if not better, than a plenum without the added hassle of constructing the platform and maintaining the gap below the substrate.