[joelq]

Hi all - I just purchased a used 90 gallon tank from my LFS that I'd like to setup as my first saltwater/reef tank (I was originally considering a 72 gallon, but the stand and canopy that would have come with that couldn't be stripped and refinished). My LFS was selling the 90 gallon Oceanic with oak stand and canopy, lights, wet/dry sump, skimmer, pump, and all plumbing for $600 - and I just had to do it! The LFS threw in a brand-new overflow kit to boot, and it was only about a year old. The lights are 48" Coralife with LED moonlights, but not sure what type - I know there are 4 24" 65 watt lamps in there, two of which are Actinic.

Here's a pic of the tank.



It will take me a few weeks to strip and refinish the stand and canopy, so I've got some time before I fire this thing up, and I'm just doing a bit of pre-planning right now. Please help! :-)

- the wet-dry sump that came with the tank is a Sealife Systems sump rated up to 125 gallons. Picture of the sump below. I'd like to retrofit this to replace the bio balls with LR, remove the sponges, and also add a refugium to the mix. Would the LR have to be submerged in water? If it's unclear from the pic, the water flow comes down onto the bio balls, then through the grid to the bottom of the sump, then right through the sponges. The skimmer and return pump would be in the compartment to the right. If the LR has to be submerged, I guess I'd have to install a baffle from the bottom of the sump to raise the water level?



- Any ideas on baffling and other mods? Or would it be better/easier to just build one out of a used 20-30 gallon? I think I have a good feel for what makes a good sump/refugium from reading on melevsreef, but didn't know if it would be better for me to just start over clean.

- I'm shooting for getting 100 lbs of LR to start the tank cycling. Given this, and also given I will have a refugium with LR/LS/etc underneath, how much LS should I plan for? Would I not need as much LS in the tank if I have some in a refugium?

- As for the refugium - would I start seeding it with LR/LS/etc right when I start the cycling process?

- On LR - since I will be cycling with them, and since I won't have any livestock in the tank, is there a benefit to using pre-cured LR? My LFS sells pre-cured LR for $5.99/lb in quantities over 50 lbs, and I could save some money if I could go with uncured.

Is there anything else I need to be planning for? If anyone has any tips for stripping and refinishing the stand and canopy, please let me know! :-)