ok i am changing my plans up a bit. i have joined a pico contest on another site so i will be going a bit more over the top than i had originally planned. i have chosen to ditch the hood and stock filter altogether and i have also ditched my plans for modding the stock hood for the 2x18w PC bulbs. instead i will be using a Nova Extreme Pro 20in light that i got for $50 when i bought another tank. i have also decided to mod an AC30(which i am purchasing from Bo_) into a fuge which will also add 150gph of flow. i am still gonna use the surface skimmer attachment along with a little bit of filterfloss in the first "chamber" of the modded AC30. the heater (already ordered the stealth but will also be getting a hydor theo 50w from Bo_) will go in the second "chamber" of the modded filter. i have also changed up the pipework some in my head in a way that should increase the output and give me a more random flow.
i have also changed up my coral choices. i will still have zoas and maybe a shroom or 2 but i will also be including some LPS, im thinking a frogspawn would look good on ones side(maybe the sexies will host it), along with a couple acan rocks in the front of the tank.
i have also decided to do a lifted reef. more because it looks cooler and it is different than anyother reason.
i have also finalized my stocking and it will be like this: 3 sexy shrimp, 1 porcelain crab, and 1 small goby(either a trimma or eviota species)
i have either ordered or have all of the equipment i am going to need for this build except an ATO(might buy one after the contest because there is a lowest budget prize that i am gonna try to win lol) which i wont have for awhile unless i can find a good brand(like jbj, tunze, etc.) for cheap
i am also going to be going to the LFS tomorrow and buy some small dead rock and see if they carry the LS i want in the 10lb bag(smallest bag they sell). once i get the dead rock and start receiving my equipment i will start designing my aquascape and once i get it all decided i am going to glue the rocks together.