starting a new project

Well let me start off by apologizing for the length of this post. To tell
you where I want to go, I will start by telling you where I've been. I have
a 29gal planted tank with fluorite substrate, fluval 204 canister, compact
fluorescent lighting, and pressurized CO2. My inhabitant are a female Angel,
a couple of Neons, two Cories, a Pleco, and Trumpet Snails. Everything has
been fine for two years, my Angel even spawns periodically, even though
every time I try to add more Neons they disappear (she eats them??). Any way
due to changing personal circumstances I have neglected this tank for
months. No water changes, no chemistry tests, and no filter cleaning. Plant
growth is out of control (it's a jungle in there). A couple of weeks ago my
Pleco up and died. Then the next day my Angel was hanging out on the surface
then also died. Its been about two weeks all the other inhabitants seem fine
except I noticed that the points of the trumpet snail shells have apparently
dissolved. Well that's where I've been. Well I'm looking into doing a 75gal
planted. Using a sump to move all the junk out of the main tank. I'm
planning on making my own background from Styrofoam and either cement or
epoxy resin. And using a Durso standpipe in a corner overflow. I've been
doing a lot of reading on these subjects. But I'm left with a few questions.
Bear in mind I want to keep inside the main tank maintenance to a minimum.

1.. How to remove debris from the bottom. Can an overflow/sump setup
achieve this?
2.. I was looking into a UGJ setup for this artical by Marc Elieson but
that defeats the idea of getting the "junk" out of the tank. I may do it any
way and alternate my sump return and separate UGJ jets under ground.
3.. I have not purchased my new tank yet and I have found many articles on
DIY aquariums. Is it feasible to make a glass aquarium with an acrylic
bottom (ease of drilling)? How about plywood bottom?
If you are still reading this, I thank you for your patience and I look
forward to hearing from any one with comments or suggestions.