Help "building" 36g Reef

[parkersmomma2]

So far I have all my livesand in, about 36 lbs of live rock (getting 15-20 lbs more), a couple turbo snails, and two emerald crabs. For filtration right now I have a Tetra Whisper 60, and the power filter that my tank came with. I'm hoping to move the one my tank came with to my other (freshwater) tank and use a different type of filtration (takes up too much room). I have one powerhead...I believe it's an aqueon 700. Do I need another powerhead or is that one efficient?
I was thinking of adding this refugium, some refugium mud, and whatever other macroalge/refugium filter media you guys can recommend.
I also want to add a protein skimmer . Do you think that will be enough? If not what more?
I was also wondering what are the "essential" water conditioners or supplements to help keep my levels correct?


Thanks for your help!
Nikole

 

[Terrance]

The live rocks are adequate biological filtration. You can keep the HOB filter for mechanical filtration, but you will run out of room in the back of the tank after you add the Aquafuge and HOB skimmer. Its ok not to have the HOB filter and do water changes for mechanical filtration. If you do enough water changes, then you really do not need to add any supplements reef tanks. Water changes restore all the used up minerals and whatever else corals need to survive in most tanks. Nevertheless, test regularly and consider supplements or other options as needed to fill the "essentials".

The powerhead is decent for water movement. More is better though.

 

[Ingy]

If you're looking at both the HOB fuge and a skimmer, consider the Aquafuge PS. It has the skimmer included. Then you only have 1 pump supplying the skimmer which feeds the fuge.
I got mine of of eBay for $120 plus shipping. The fuge had 1 minor defect which required me to spend 1 minute filling a bracket flat and the pump needed the air supply inlet drilled out (another minute).

 

[Ingy]

Here's what I bought on eBay

Look at this on eBay: Refugium Pro...mp HOB Sump PS 25" New http://bit.ly/MdSSv3

http://bit.ly/MdSSv3

And here's what I got

 

[Ingy]

Hmmm. Nothing worked.

Here's my new fuge PS I got.

 

[Ericwm]

I was thinking about eventually adding a fuge to the back of my 30 gallon similar to what you have done. Do you have any tips on this process or anything you might have learned that you would do differently?

What volume would I want and what is the general design of a refugium?