Hola! New to the aquarium forum scene, not really new to the hobby…been keeping fish for about 7 years now, first kept a few FW community tanks then bought/traded
for the big 125g cichlid tank. Now trying to climb into SW with my 55g collumn tank. Tanks been up for about 8 months now. Housing some softies,leathers,candies,gloves,shrooms, etc. Quickly realized water parameters are more difficult to keep steady so expanding volume with a 23g sump/refugium, just built a new stand with more room for it, also looking forward to being able to put the top back on my tank because i can house all the machinery in the sump.
first question: how tricky is it going to be cycling the new live sand and rock that i’ll be placing in the refugium with livestock in the display? any tricks/tips?
secondly: having to replace alot of water due to evaporation loss…distilled vs spring? been using distilled.
thirdly: does chaeto need HO lighting to grow in sump?

Lots of questions i know, new hours at work don’t let me get to the lfs very often, trying to find help where i can!!

I am new and after setting up my aquarium I found him on a piece of LR.

After reading I found that some of the hitch hikers can be bad.

Just wondering if I should remove him now before he becomes an Issue or not.

I have a brand new Oceanic Biocube ( the picture I have included is from petco online) . It has never been opened. I bought it from Petco online, with a giftcard. I can print out the online receipt so if something is wrong with you can take it back for a store credit and you will get your full warranty through oceanic. The only reason I am selling it is because as a surprise my husband not only bought the tank and stand,but set it up for me too. So now we the one that isnt open. I am asking 250.00 for it. I am open to offers. Please email me with questions. Thanks for looking. I am in Michigan.

20.8" L X 19" W X 20.1" H

Oceanic BioCube Aquarium
Oceanic BioCube Aquarium has all the necessary components built-in, spend your time setting up your ideal environment, then plug it in and enjoy the results! The Oceanic BioCube Aquarium features high-quality components like integrated wet/dry Biological Filtration with dual overflow intakes, two Coralife compact fluorescent lamps, lunar blue LED lights, remote quick-disconnect ballasts, a UL listed submersible pump with adjustable discharge nozzle and dual fans to dissipate heat. This beautiful aquarium can be used for saltwater or freshwater set-ups.

Stuck with three different style t5 48" not sure which one to go with so if you guys can give me a hand. Thanks.
1 WavePoint 48" High Output T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X54W
2Current USA Nova Extreme T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X54 Watt, 48 inch (NEW STYLE)
3 I know but just giving it a try
Odyssea 48" 216W (4x 54W) T5 HO Pro

all are 216w goal is soft coral nothing too crazy. Oh yeah specs 55gallon 50lb LR, 60lb LS, 200w heater, bh100 octopus skimmer, marineland 350 bio-wheel. Thanks for the advice.

I started this aquarium up on october 22 in 2009.Ilike to keep it simple just a sump beneath with blue sponges,and all the old equipment of 1997 (first starting)
lighting 4x T8 (2 blue x 2 white) and 1 x 150ww HQI. Its a closed tank because i have two cats running over.
the beginning:october 2009

adding the first fishes and corals:November 2009

now after some more then 4 months

i keep stone corals, leathercorals together
fishes: 2x gobius,1 x zebrasoma veliferum, 1 x zebrasoma flavencens;1 x chelmon rostratus,2 x kauderni, 2 x clownfishes occelaris,2 x red scooter and 2 x nemateleotris decora.
shrimps: lysmata debius and lysmata amboinensis

I started this aquarium up on october 22 in 2009.Ilike to keep it simple just a sump beneath with blue sponges,and all the old equipment of 1997 (first starting)
lighting 4x T8 (2 blue x 2 white) and 1 x 150ww HQI. Its a closed tank because i have two cats running over.
the beginning:october 2009

adding the first fishes and corals:November 2009

now after some more then 4 months

i keep stone corals, leathercorals together
fishes: 2x gobius,1 x zebrasoma veliferum, 1 x zebrasoma flavencens;1 x chelmon rostratus,2 x kauderni, 2 x clownfishes occelaris,2 x red scooter and 2 x nemateleotris decora.
shrimps: lysmata debius and lysmata amboinensis