Derick, I wish you the best of luck my man, I do.
I've read through you're plywood build, and now this thread. I think the reason you're getting the negative reaction that you do is because you ask for advice/ opinions, but then when people give advice/ opinions you basically tell them that they're wrong, and you're right.
I think people want to help, I have yet to run into any members of this board that hope someone fails, quite the opposite in fact.
I am certainly not rich, and I try and save money as much as I can. But I've also learned that there are certain places where you can save money, and there are certain areas where saving money costs more in the long run.
As far as your tank goes...
I cannot imagine being okay with overflowing your sump every time you shut down the return, maybe you are. I hope the inside of the stand is sealed really well, and I hope you aren't particularly attached to the carpet in that room, cause it'll be toast. I shut down my return pump *at least* once a week, sometimes 3 or 4 times a week for various maintenance tasks.
As far as the skimmer goes. Obviously a DIY 2L bottle skimmer isn't going to cut it, as you've acknowledged. Since you're on a tight budget, I'd offer up a different solution. Get a bigger sump, if a 40 breeder is the biggest you can fit, that'll have to do. First order of business, set it up so that it can handle all the water when you shut down the return. Then set it up to run as big of a refugium as you can. Section off an area for your return, maybe a section for where the drain comes in (optional), some sand, some rock, some macro algae. Even if you have to buy a brand new tank, the glass for the baffles, and some macro you'll be all set for a fair amount less than a decent skimmer for a 200+ gal tank. A big fuge, with a good water change schedule would work IMO, especially with the corals you're likely looking at with your lighting. Of course, something to think about, you'll be spend more on salt, so you may save money up front, but still spend it in the long run. Not that you can skip water changes with a good skimmer, but if you're skimmerless, and relying on WC's as you main method of nutrient export you'll be blowing through salt like nobody's business on a tank that size.
You'll need more in terms of lighting. Your tank is deep (tall), and NO's, PC's, even T5's without the proper reflectors will not penetrate that kind of depth.
Not sure what you're using, but from looking at the pictures, I think you'll also need to bump up your flow. Decent quality PH's are relatively cheap. Vortechs are nice, as are some Tunzes on a controller, but Koralias will work too, at a fraction of the cost.
The problem I have with PurpleUp is that you don't know exactly what's in it. IMO...Never dose anything that you don't test for. That's why I, and many others recommend a good 2-part (B-Ionic, C-Balance) over PurpleUp.
Those magic cycling things tend to be long on promises, short on results. I'd be very cautious with using those to "cycle" a reef tank.
I have no experience with DIY rock, so take what I have to say FWIW, but everything I've read it needs a good couple of months before it's fully cured. I definitely be careful with that.
Just my opinion, no offense intended. Best of luck.
