[Daniel Keith]

Hi Glampka,

You don't know how much I appreciate your advice!

I definitely cannot get rid of the lid. So, I have two questions in that regard: First, the MH lights that I am using have two fans built-in. Won't that resolve the heat issue? Second, if I add a chiller to my list of equipment to buy <grrrr>, will that resolve any heat concerns?

I guess I just don't have my head wrapped around exactly what a sump is. I have looked it up in online stores, but they just tell me its features, with leave me wondering what it is exactly. I really hate that I'm asking a question that seems to have an obvious answer, but what is a sump? You seem to be saying that if I use a sump, I won't need the powerheads. That would be AWESOME considering the aesthetics. But, how does a sump resolve that issue. From what I am reading, water circulation is of paramount importance, and I just don't understand how a sump that sits in the cabinet beneath the aquarium circulates the water.

I actually looked at the exact overflows that you directed me to. The problem is aesthetics: while the overflow hides the pipes, it creates a visual "imbalance" in that it breaks the line of the otherwise-smooth wall. That's why I thought that a strainer pipe that I could hide within the coral would be - visually - superior. I do understand what you are saying about the film on the top of the water and the fact that an overflow extracts that. In my original plan, the powerheads were supposed to generate enough turbulence to force those minerals into the water where they could be extracted through the strainer pipe and into the venturi skimmer.

Again, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your help. Thanks!

-Daniel Keith