setting up my 72 bowfront

hi Im new to this site but i would first like to thank you for reading this...

this is my setup so far.
-72 bow
-?overflow
-americal sump
-some bioballs and media
-rio2500+ pump
-maxijet power head
-ball valve
-current flow protein skimmer
-10gal refugium
-all glass aquarium 86 watt lighting

Im tring to start a reef aquarium and I need help on what else I need and how to run it. Ive cycled the tank and so far its been 4 weeks. I have 2 small chunks of live rock and 2 medium/large chunks of white base rock.

-what light should I get mine is way underpowered for a reef
-needs to be cheap because I cant just drop $800 on a light

thanks for the help

 

For lighting I would get t-5's. Your gonna want to get a clean up crew next.

 

I agree.

 

Well, you will need more rock. Just buy base rock, it will be cheaper. You can either cure it outside of the tank and put it in, or if it's really base rock, you can usually just put it in the tank. You don't want a lot of organic stuff on the rock as that will lead to another cycle, especially with only a few pieces of rock.

As for lighting, I agree, T5 is the way to go. If you want to do it cheaper, you can do a retro kit. Depending on what you want to keep, I would do at least a 4 bulb fixture. If you want more light demanding corals and inverts, anemones, sps corals, then a 6 bulb fixture will be better. As for bulbs, the stock bulbs are ok to start with, but generally they produce less par then name brand bulbs. You may want to upgrade them at some point, but its not immediately necessary.

 

and two good books

 

marco rocks is where i got some base rock from was really impressed and can request sizes of the rock and he is always having good deals

 

I went on aquatraders.com and saw there light fixtures and I flipped out. the only quetion is what to get. these three totally opposite choices but I need some oppinions. please tell me what I would be able to keep with the light and your choice. theres a PC, a MH, and a T-5

Odyssea Power Compact Lighting

http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-48in-500W-Metal-Halide-System-p/54224.htm

Odyssea T5 High Output Lighting

thanks so much

 

the only problem with those is that they have no guarantee (only 30 days) so if they break then a whole new light and youll be paying double.

 

Would I be able to make my own rock? and how long would it take to get the corilline algae to grow on it.(about 85 pounds worth)

 

I use 2x 250 w metal halides