Help with setup and equipment

[Panthera]

I'm about to start my first reef and after hours of reading I'm still confused about everything. All I have is a 48 gallon tank, a regular aquarium canopy and a heater. I'd like to have lps and a few fish, not sure what. Torch coral and xenia would be nice and something easy, large and colourful.

This is the plan, what do you think? Am I going to the right direction with these?

-Tank: 48 gallon 39L x16W x18H
-Sand: White sand that doesn't get blown away in the current. About 1 inch deep. Grain size 1-2mm? Is it too fine?
-Live rock: How much approximately? I want an easy to clean, open look and space between the rocks and glass.
- Skimmer: Tunze comline doc 9004? I've read about some issues (air tube clogs) with that skimmer so I'm a little unsure. It's very tall too, 16 inches, will it even fit in my tank? Hob skimmer is also an option but I prefer an internal one.
- Powerhead: 2x Hydor Koralia nano 1600?
- Ato: Tunze osmolator nano?
-RO/DI system: No idea. Something good and reliable.
- Heater: I have a 150w Eheim heater. How many heaters do I need? 2, 3?
-Light: This is a hard one. I've been thinkin about getting two Giesemann Pulzar led HO 52W bars in the canopy. Is that anywhere near enough light for lps? I don't mind if I have to choose some low light corals. Am I going to have problems with overheating because of the canopy?

 

[lapin]

I'm about to start my first reef and after hours of reading I'm still confused about everything. All I have is a 48 gallon tank, a regular aquarium canopy and a heater. I'd like to have lps and a few fish, not sure what. Torch coral and xenia would be nice and something easy, large and colourful.

This is the plan, what do you think? Am I going to the right direction with these?
-Sand: White sand that doesn't get blown away in the current. About 1 inch deep. Grain size 1-2mm? Is it too fine?
It will be ok
-Live rock: How much approximately? I want an easy to clean, open look and space between the rocks and glass.
50 lbs Fish need some places to hide and sleep
- Skimmer: Tunze comline doc 9004? I've read about some issues (air tube clogs) with that skimmer so I'm a little unsure. It's very tall too, 16 inches, will it even fit in my tank? Hob skimmer is also an option but I prefer an internal one.
Not the best but it should work
- Powerhead: 2x Hydor Koralia nano 1600?
You can also add more if you need them
- Ato: Tunze osmolator nano?
Great choice
-RO/DI system: No idea. Something good and reliable.
BRS makes a few different ones 3 stage is fine for a small tank
- Heater: I have a 150w Eheim heater. How many heaters do I need? 2, 3?
2 - One for backup if for some reason 1 goes bad . I would get a 200 watt with controller.
-Light: This is a hard one. I've been thinkin about getting two Giesemann Pulzar led HO 52W bars in the canopy. Is that anywhere near enough light for lps? I don't mind if I have to choose some low light corals. Am I going to have problems with overheating because of the canopy?
Go to your LFS and see what you like and how they mount. Cheap chinese LED lights Like the T247 will grow corals

 

[Redleg]

You didn't mention having a sump. Is it your intention to place your skimmer into the display tank? Your wording makes me think that is your plan.

 

[Panthera]

Is it your intention to place your skimmer into the display tank? Your wording makes me think that is your plan.

Yes, that's the plan, no sump, skimmer in the tank. Not a good idea? I did read a lot about internal vs external, wet and dry skimming and so on and couldn't find one correct answer for it. That's what makes everything so hard, so many ways to do things. I'm afraid that a hob filter might oveflow and leak and they also seem very loud. There's just not many good options for internal skimmers. The better ones are too big.

My LFS doesn't sell reef supplies nor led lights, the closest reef store is.. Well, too far away. I want good quality controllable lights, I probably wont need fancy weather simulation etc but I know I'm going to want stuff like that anyway.

 

[Redleg]

Ok so internal skimmers are made to be put into a sump. so that will pretty much limit you to a hang on back skimmer. You should seriously consider going with a sump as it will open up large range of equipment. I'm still new at reef tanks myself. My current setup is 60gal DT 29 gal sump Blackbox lights. I drilled my tank and made my sump from a used tank. I added a couple baffles and a return pump. I'm currently running without a skimmer. Just live rock and chaeto in the sump for the past 4 months. I just ordered a SCA 302 skimmer for my system. My sump is big enough to add a reactor or 2 as needed later. I spent a couple months reading and planning to the point of analysis paralysis. Then just went for it with my limited system with room to grow.