Please help me I'm new and need guidance

[ejv1013]

Hello I was hoping someone can help me in regards to my set up. I have a 90 gal tank i got a AquaPro 75 Wet/Dry, SeaStorm 75 Protein Skimmerwith pump, Ehime 2227 Canister Filter, a Marineland 350 Canister Filter, and Deep Blue Solormax H.O. High Output Double T5 Lighting System. I want to get a refugium tank to replace the wet and dry. I want a reef tank with SPS and LPS so i know I'm going to have to replace the lights in the future but i have these for now to cycle the tank. My question is is my equipment good to have a reef tank do i have enough filtration, do you recommend bigger skimmer if so can i buy it later on when i start to put fish in the tank and what is the best way to start a cycle? Should i go with live rock cycle, dead strip in tank cycle, hardy fish cycle or the ammonia only cycle? Thanks for your inputs in advance.

[tebstan]

So much depends on preference and live stock.

I ran without a skimmer at all for a long time - on purpose, not because I didn't have one. I wanted to see if certain NPS and softies would grow better. They did. But I got tired of cleaning and put the skimmer back on, and re-homed the NPS to a smaller tank.

Same with rock. Some people swear by dry rock cycling with ammonia to prevent pests. But sooner or later you're bound to bring home a frag with a critter on it, so nothing is pure in the long run. I love the diversity of starting with live rock. I've had weird stuff pop up that I spent hours trying to ID. Whether good or bad, I enjoyed seeing the life emerge and learning about it.

[tebstan]

How much rock are you planning on having? Why replace the sump with a fuge, can you try to do both? If you have a sump with rubble, a fuge, a skimmer, and live rock in the tank, you may not need those other canister filters. You can't have too much filtration I guess, but too much equipment can be unsightly and sometimes even contribute to heat issues in the tank (if you live in a warm area).

[Sk8r]

First of all read the stickies at the top of this forum: they will answer questions you don't know to ask yet.

[topbottomfeeder]

I don't know if this is true everywhere, but if I were you, I'd buy live rocks from local aquarium hobbyists(use craigslist or something like it), I bought from both a commercial source and from a local hobbyists. the local source cost much less, and the quality of the rock is much better. plus, you learn a lot more from conversing with other hobbyists than from a LFS person

[ejv1013]

Thanks for the replays I use the refuge with a built in wet and dry Tenstan my intentions with the canister is to have ceramic rings on the 3 levels and live synthetic sand on the pill looking chamber to have a nice biological camber to accommodate the refuge. I know it might be an over kill but I figured theres no such thing as too much filtration.

Sk8r sorry about that I made sure to read all the stickies already.

Topbottomfeeder I agree with all that i am looking into craigslist to see if i find some local live rock from a hobbits.

Thank you all have a great day.

[Flippers4pups]

Dump the canisters. They will do nothing but cause problems. Dump the wet/ dry and get a sump. Dump the skimmer you have and replace it with one rated at lest two to three times your total water volume. Get more LR. Invest in a RO/Di unit and a ATO. All this comes from years of experience and lots of wasted money. Trust me.

[ejv1013]

Sounds good flippers when i get the funds ill invest in a bigger skimmer thanks which do you recommend?

[Flippers4pups]

I like the reef octopus line, but do some reading here on RC and elsewhere. There are many fine skimmer manufacturers, just depends on how much your willing to spend. I would highly recommend getting all of your equipment before getting to far into the hobby. Sounds like you know what you want in a reef tank, but having everything, equipment wise, first will save you time and money. If I was just starting out, I would get a RO/Di unit first. Good quality water will help you avoid so many problems. Good luck to you and take it slow.