I think pretty much everyone has summed it up so there isn't much more to add. It sounds like you have been to a few meetings, and have seen a few people's setups so hopefully you have some idea's on what might work out in your setup. I know that when I started this hobby, back in about September, I had done just about every possible thing wrong. I bought the wrong tank, wrong pump, wrong substrate, fish, salt, skimmer (I'm still not convinced that these things WORK/worth it (grin)), you name it I probably did it wrong. In my case, my persistence was based on the challenge and not as much as relaxation. As I stopped by club members houses I took their advise, for the most part, and looked at how maliciously they had planned out their setup's while trying to see how I too could streamline my setup.
Unfortunately, I like you still lug 5gal buckets of both fresh and salt water between my 32g brute. I should only be lugging 5gal buckets of salt water from my brute to my tank... but that's only because I don't have time connect the already run 1/4 line in the crawlspace I laid to the ro.
James: I'm guessing that your 1/4 line, feeding your tank, is for top-off water? How many gph are you pushing out of that thing - it just seems like a really small line..
Unfortunately, I like you still lug 5gal buckets of both fresh and salt water between my 32g brute. I should only be lugging 5gal buckets of salt water from my brute to my tank... but that's only because I don't have time connect the already run 1/4 line in the crawlspace I laid to the ro.
James: I'm guessing that your 1/4 line, feeding your tank, is for top-off water? How many gph are you pushing out of that thing - it just seems like a really small line..