Advice on keeping SPS in a 37g compared to a 90g (probably downsizing)

[Radioheadx14]

Before I was going to set up a 93g square to replace my 90g in my new apartment, but I'm starting to think of just keeping everything in a 37g I bought a while back. 24x18x20. It would be a lot cheaper and easier to make water for a smaller tank... but how much harder to keep SPS happy in a smaller tank? Since I sold most of my SPS due to the move and a period of being away for 6 months, I would be starting with mostly frags. Not worried about space.

Old setup:
90g 48"x18"x24"
6x54w sunpower
MSX 160 skimmer
calcium reactor
30g sump with about 12g of that used as a fuge
aquacontroller 3
Maxijet mods
Fish: yellow tang, potters angel, 2 ocellaris clowns, 2 bangaii cardinals, lawnmower blenny & fairy wrasse

New setup:
37g 24x18x20 (basically a 75g cut in half)
250w MH
MSX 160 skimmer or a euroreef rs80 (I have both)
calcium reactor
18g rubbermaid tub sump w/ no fuge
aquacontroller 3
Maxijet mods (maybe vortechs or the new koralias on controllers down the line)
Carbon reactor (tlf) or GFO reactor or both?
Fish: Potter's angel, 2 clowns and the wrasse (others will be loaned/given away)
+ lots of LR

I was able to grow everything in my 90 with out a hitch. My first SPS thrived and looked great. I am confident in my aquaria skills, just curious if the change in size will have a big impact if my husbandry habits don't change? Also, would the MSX 160 work better since its a bigger skimmer or do you think it would be overkill and the rs80 will do just fine?

 

[OzarksReef]

I recently downsized from a 150 to a 50 cube. I lost some large monti colonies in the move - I suspect it was due to a drop in alkalinity (6 - 6.5). You can see my current setup in my signature - overall, it's working very well - though still early (around three months into it). Some keys for me:

1. Add as much volume in the sump as possible - I've got a 40 sump and 40 frag tank.
2. Take advantage of the smaller space from a flow standpoint - it's easier (cheaper) to get chaotic, random flow in a small volume of water.
3. Add live rock to the extra sump space - you need all the extra filtration/denitrification you can get.
4. Overskim and offset with water changes - since you've got less total water volume, you can change 15%+ a week a lot easier.
5. Run GFO & Carbon reactors - the small volume is less forgiving and this media will help correct things before they become a problem.

 

[Radioheadx14]

good to know. I'm sure I have close to 200lbs of LR So I'll try to pack it as much as I can. I was thinking of even making a large tub sump next to the tank, but I'm not sure that I want to look at it. I have it plumbed now and I'm in the process of filling it with SW... hoping for no leaks!

I brought a 5 gallon bucket full of LR to get the tank ready for the live stock move. The rock has been submerged the entire time, but it sat in a 5 gallon bucket for 3 days with no water movement or heater. The water stunk like **** but its in clean water now w/ flow. I'm going to buy a heater tomorrow. Hopefully there wasn't too much die off. I saw some dead pods but lots of live bristle worms.

I may keep the MSX 160 skimmer on it to keep it extra clean.

 

[Radioheadx14]

I'm sure more people have down sized... any other comments would be appreciated.