Bearded's 100G LPS and Zoa Garden

[bearded]

About 8 years ago I moved to the city and broke down my 29G Reef. My wife and I just bought a house, and I'm finally ready to jump back into the hobby.

Things I could use some advice on are in red below.

I've been plotting and planning for months now, and I've decided on the IM Nuvo 100 EXT. I don't love the stand, though, so if anyone has suggestions for a third-party stand, I'd appreciate it.

I want to stock LPS and zoas. Contrary to basically everyone else, I don't really like SPS. I also want to monitor and automate as much as I can.

Here's my plan:

Phase 0: (hopefully starting in the next few weeks)
Install RO/DI and fresh/salt reservoirs
Buy some rock and get it curing in a bin

Phase 1:
Buy the tank, stand, sump plumbing, etc.
Set it up and plumb it
Fill it up and get the rock in there
Set up ATO

Phase 2:
Once it's all cycled add a few fish and inverts
Buy an APEX and get it all programmed

Phase 3:
Buy lighting, turn them on and add a test coral or two

Phase 4:
Add a bunch more corals


Here's what I'm thinking as far as gear

• NUVO 100 EXT tank, bare bottom
• Trigger Triton 34 sump (not planning to do Triton, but really like this sump setup)
• Kessil H160 for chaeto fuge
• Reef Octopus Essence 130 Skimmer
• 2x Mightyjet Midsize Return Pumps (not 100% on these)
• 2x MP40 left/right and one MP10 on back bottom for flow
• 2x Kessil A360WE for lighting (thinking this instead of the X because it's APEX controllable)
• AutoAqua AWC for ATO and water changes (thoughts on this vs. APEX + ATK /DOS?)
• APEX for dosing/monitoring

Other things I'm not sure on are moonlight, autofeeding, and any other APEX goodies.

Definitely open to advice if there's anything that looks weird here. Like I said it's been a minute since I last had a tank going.

Also, I realize that no one looks at these threads if there are no photos, so here's my dog being a derp.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I have no experience with Apex (yet), but it looks like you have a good plan in order. I have the same Kessil over my fuge and it works great. I've only used Reef Octopus and I've always been happy. I too like the Triton sumps -- just not the price. I'll let he Apex vets answer your questions. Oh, and I see this is your first post... welcome to R2R!