Advice/thoughts please :)

[WCW]

I've two Emperor 400's on my 100gal. tank. Other equipment: UV sterilizer, protein skimmer and a Coralife 48" 4x65w w/lunar lights light system. Question is, I'm debating what the better next choice should be (if even needed)... go Canister or wet/dry system to replace the Emperors or get a RO/DI system for water vs. the tap which is what i've been using. Canister sys i looked at Eheim Professionel Wet/Dry Canister Filters

I do not intend to go (I say this now...) full reef, but primarily fish with soft corals and inverts. I want to invest $ wisely for things that will benefit what I want to do/maintain the best. I see all the diff equipment to go with this hobby ie. chillers, calcium/kalk reactors etc etc and get overwhelmed!

[omard]

Forget all that other stuff.

Just get all the live rock you can afford along with a decent skimmer. Does have to be expensive.

[WCW]

Live rock's it? Hmm, you make it easy Omard! rofl If that's the case that takes a lot of stress off me. I can do that. It's been years (15-18 ) since I've done live rock. (I dont really count the small pieces in my tank that I bought with soft corals on them). With live rock isn't it supposed to sit in your tank or something for awhile before you add any livestock? Or am I thinking of 'curing' the tank when it's new...? The tank I've running now is coming up on 4 years in operation. If I can just add live rock to it now then that's great

[amcarrig]

I would actually invest in an r.o. unit before anything else. Also, you can buy dead base rock for much less than live rock and not have to worry about unwanted hitchhikers.

Marco Rocks The finest aquarium rock available, base rock, live rock, reef rock, marco rock, reef tank saltwater fish, live corals, Marco rocks, Fiji live rock, Tonga Live rock

[Iraf]

I agree, even though I offer this advice as well, since you own a UV Sterilizer that doesnt mean you have to run it, I'd only turn it on if you notice ich or something else that isn't right with your fish, they can cause bigger problems with stability than their helpful benefits

I'd buy an RO/DI since I have nowhere to put one I still refuse to use tap water, I purchase RO/DI water at the LFS for around .50 a gallon

other than that I'd recommend a sump/skimmer setup and ditch the filters and canister

Some people swear by canister filtration, I personally hate them

[Bogie]

Dry base rock also weighs a little less than wet, water logged liverock, and you pay by the pound...

[pharmrjohn]

I do LR, a PS (which I need to upgrade) and a filter sock, which needs to be cleaned out a lot, lest it become a nitrate factory.

A RO/DI is a must. I am getting one next month. SSSHHHHHHHH. My wife doesn't know.