So that light, premade sump,skimmer my 18 uv light,some kinda wave maker (or not if i don't need one at first but would like to get every thing together before I start my work) thick bed of sand on some kinda DIY and a overflow. No lid open tank. I would like to be able to buy all the parts minus the sand/live rock for around a grand. Lights 500 skimmer 250 sump 150 thats 900 more on the giving side. Now when you HOB overflow your talking about on the outside can you have one that hangs on the inside and get a true skim of the top of the water and suck that water out? I had a HOB syphon type filter when I was a kid and hated that thing what a pain it was If we can come up with a way to get a skim and not use a syphon I would be in haven. I guess the pump would have to take the water out at the same rate it went in and that would be hard to do. Well I have about two months to think about it and at this rate I should be good in one at least to the point where I feel confident enough to start and buy stuff.