If you are not planning on keeping any light requiring corals then light wont be a prob but if u want to keep things like acros, u need to think bout par. For a 2 feet, i prefer using hob, im using a hob for my 2feet frag tank which has a flow rate of 400l/h and a surface skimmer, bought it from nature aquarium. Im using natures oceaan live aragonite sand...heres the link http://aquamarin.com.sg/productsDetail.asp?productid=284
The amount of sand is just nice for your tank, though u may want a deeper sand bed. Its just your preference. As for your filter media, just use biohome,good grade carbon and phosphate media.
I know a person who has setted a very nice tank, but just started this year....the tank dimensions are almost the same....u can find it