hey i appreciate all this input people. i don't want to screw this up and regret a rushed decision.
i will be running two 400w german 10k MH's over the tank, not sure if i want actinics yet (or perhaps i should say, i can't afford them off the bat). i will also be doing an approx. 4" DSB. i would like to add some contours so i may look into making it deeper in some spots. i won't be going nuts with the LR, rather than making a wall of it, i want to put down a sort of L-shape mound of it. if possible i would like to leave enough room for the fish to swim around the back, but i don't know if there will be enough space. the 48x30x30 will be 187 gallons, which is a heck of a lot, so i may go with the 48x30x24 (provided i decide to go 30 deep rather than 30 high, after i see des' tank).
i am dealing with mitch at IA, yes. so far everything seems very reasonable. the 120 quote i got from him was about $450, sump at $100. getting the tank edges ground and polished added $96, but i think that's both front and back, and i might only get the front done. i'm not exactly sure how it looks yet so i can't judge. he said that if i call in advance, i can drop by their shop, which i plan to do, perhaps the morning before i head to jon's before i head to the calgary meeting.
