helppp cycle is being dumb

update

ok well i just got some free stuff from one of my fathers buddy who had a friend getting out of the hobby.

The things i got included
- a wet/dry filter with bioballs and all. (not sure what i do with it?)
-2 rio pumps, a 1700 and a 2500
- two different protein skimmers which need a good cleaning, and im not sure what models they are yet.
- a 300 watt heater
-a thermometer
- a powerhead.

Good part is i got it all free.

I also purchased a mag drive 9.5 return pump today at a pet store that was going out of buisness, i got it for 30 bucks, so thats a good deal. I was going to go with an ehiem, but i just couldnt resist the price of the mag drive.

I want to setup the wet/dry, but my question is should i just set it up as a sump and run the protein skimmer with it, or should i set it up as the actual wet/dry. And if i should set it as the wet/dry, im going to need some detailed help and instructions because theres a lot of stuff that i dont know what on earth to do with lol.

On another note, i have a shipment containing my cleaner crew coming tomorrow!

-Jay
 
Free stuff is always fun. That is a fantastic price on the Mag as well. I don't have any experience in the Wet/Dry and most I see nowadays are converting them but maybe someone will have valid reasons for keeping it intact.
 
not sure, it doesnt appear that it would hold to large of a volume of water, probably about 15g.

I could just put my skimmer in the middle, and the left and right compartments can be return/water in compartments.

I identified at least one of the skimmers as a sea clone HOT skimmer, not sure if they are any good or even how i would go about setting it up.

The other skimmer looks pretty similar, but a bit larger.
 
ok, i got my clean-up crew today... and they appear to be in great shape.
its only a start, but i got.
40 dwarf blue leg hermits
10 scarlet reef hermits
10 astrea turbo snails (spelling?)
5 cerith snails
2 emerald crabs
2 pep. shrimp
1 queen conch.

As well as the 5 mexican turbos and a few dwarf red leg hermits that were already in the tank.

For fish in the tank right now i have.
1-yellow tail damsel
1- Niger Trigger fish.

Next addition will probably be a yellow tang...

after that clowns most likely, but i cant decide on whether or not to get true percs or GS maroon clown(s)

Another thing i will be getting soon enough is a shoal of chalk bass, probably not all to common.. but i like to be a bit different in stocking ideas than others, and they make a good replacement for blue/green reef chromis. Probably planning on about 10-12.

just thought id update again today.
-Jay
 
Sounds cool Jo.. How big of a tank do you have?
 
the tank is 110 gallon high. 8).

I really love the emerald crabs, i had never owned any before and they really are cool little buggers.
 
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