planning on 350g+ tank, flow ideas

[jsl6v8]

Well we are planning on, looking at going to a larger tank and consolidating the 120, 90, and 55 into a 350g+, probably no more than 500 but I imagine around 350-400g, tank just looking right now and in the meantime I'm trying to figure out how I want to set it up. My main concern right now is how I want to set up my flow as everything else will pretty much be depending on the tank size or is already set, such as I will have a 120 for the sump Melevsreef model H style. I have basically 3 ideas on the flow and one I really want to do but am not so sure it will work as I have never heard of or seen anyone use it.

Idea one: Standard build, 2 closed loops powered by darts or similar, banking on the dart for its energy effiency and its low noise level often dubbed completely quiet with Ocean motions on each of those closed loops one of each side of the tank and then a dart or maybe a barracuda as the return pump just split the flow with a T then a have 2 seperate loclines coming off each T, or maybe an OM but I don't think so, for the middle section of the tank, like the way Mflamb has

Idea 2

Same as Idea one except scrap one closed loop and throw in a Wavebox and have the second closed loop direct flow from the corners of the tank instead of its orginal side as in idea 1. Return pump the same

Idea 3
now this is the one that I have never seen used before but I think would be fantastic and would actually save me money and would be really awesome as well. Now get this, Scrap both closed loops, flow the tank completely with waveboxes and the return pump. Seeing chickinhawks wavebox and talking with him got me thinking on this level, that it should be enough flow for corals but I'm not entirely sure. I'm debating some details of this weither I would need 1 wave box and 1 extention or 1 wave boxes and 2 extentions one on a longer timer to break up waves creating more chaotic flow, I plan on contacting tunze and asking them for more details on how the one controllers controls the 3.

lighting I'm planning on using my 2 250watt 10ks and my 2 icecap 460s(I think its the 460 might be the bigger one) and doing 4 Actinic 03 and probably will buy 400W MH for the center of the tank.
That is the thoughts in my head now, at work, let me know what you think, ideas suggestions, dude that won't work and this is why, ect. Or just Hey yeah why wouldn't that work, that sounds like an awesome idea, Joshua you are a Visionary and I praise your glory, or something like that.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm in the prosess of building a 225 with a barracuda return pump split into two with a T. Water will go to the forward corners through sea swirls. Then a closed loop with a dart and OM 4-way. Two outputs are lock line that will push water from the back, through the rock to the front. Then two outputs up and over the middle facing the rock. I've done several months of research and so far I'm stoked about my plan. But I will say this. It's a very time consuming, expensive, and frustrating (I plan to use all pvc) way to go. It would be slightly cheaper and a whole lot easier to go with all tunze's. But personally, I don't like the look. And I haven't heard the greatest reviews for those things. I figure if after I'm done with all my flow plans and I'm still not happy. I'll just add a vortech powerhead or two. Problem with going with the waveboxes right off the bat is you won't be able to add a closed loop down the line if you're ever unhappy with your set up. Or at least it will be incredibly more difficult. In my mind half the fun is designing and planning. Although it's been difficult figuring out the best way to make it work, it's also been rewarding. Just hope my corals appreciate the effort =). Truth is though, all 3 of your plans should work just fine. It's all about preference, time, and money.