Thanks for the sump tip KS, I'll look into that. My current sump is a rubbermaid while I build my drilled permanent one (for the inline return pump) so I'm good there for now.
As for filtration I can only say again that the best plan is to work backwards - the species will determine what is best. My first foray into collecting taught me that. I gathered some macro algae, hermits, snails, barnacles, clams and oysters. All went well for awhile then the snails began eating the macro, the hermits attacked the snails and the barnacles, clams and oysters began to die off and foul the tank. In retrospect, I don't think I could have kept a new set up dirty enough for those types of filter feeders.
My sober second attempt is going much slower but is much more satisfying. I am plumbing three tanks together to create a display, refugium and sump. I have about 70lb's of LR cured at cold temps now with another 80lb's or so on the way. At the moment the system is housing a school of redear sunfish (a local FW species). They are nice fish and allow me to see how the system will function before converting to SW.
The current tank temp in the garage without a chiller is 61*F (with a temporary submersible return pump). With the pump turned off it's 56*F
