Pls help - design of tank with sump

[Ni_ck]

I'm thinking about having a glass shop fabricate a 5'x2'x2' or 5'x3'wx2h' tank

For the main tank:
1. what is the ideal glass thickness?
2. where should the 'reinforcements' be placed?
3. is it feasible to drill a hole one side of the tank and place a plastic/metal faucet to help make water changes a bit easier?

For the overflow pipes:
1. where should the overflow pipes be placed?
2. 1 or 2 pipes? how large should the diameter be?
3. how close/far from the sump should the bottom tip of the overflow pipe be?
4. do I need to use a net/mesh on the pipe for pre-filtering?

For the sump:
1. is a 35gallon tank big enough? (approx. 30"x18"x18")
2. what filter media should I use?
3. how should the glass partitions for the filter media be positioned?
4. what combination of filter media would be best for all-around filtration?
5. where should the return pump be placed? is a large powerhead going to be suitable?
6. as for the return pump - what options do I have aside from a garden hose? or is this the best/safest option?
7. where should the spraybar be postioned?

this tank will be home to about 2 or 3 large fish (hopefully an asian arowana + 1 or 2 fw stingrays)

guys please post pics of your sump set-ups if you want, or you can email them to me at nickdy@gmail.com

i'd appreciate all your inputs. i've never built a sump before so I need all the help I can get.

can you post your tank pics?

 

[swannee]

I prefer to keep it simple, the less holes you drill the less likely leaks will accure, and the less pluming to deal with

A 30x18x18 should be plenty big enough, for your sump :thm: as for media, would depend on the setup, I am setting up a planted tank, and am not using any media in my set up, but I hear nylon pot scrubbers work really well, lava rock (if media is submerged) is also good