Canister Filtration Media

[rhenson]

Hi,
I'm a newbie setting up a 40-45 gallon oceanic hex salt water reef tank. I'm working on my fluval 304 filtration media and woundered if anyone could help out.
The input has large sponges feeding into 3 chanmbers.
I am thinking that in the first chamber I'll put filter floss and chemi-pure. In the second chanmber having nitrate sponge and some small live rock in the third. But really, I have no clue what to add and in what order - any guidance would be appreciated!
In addition I will have a protein skimmer.
Thanks.

 

[dskidmore]

With a bunch of Live Rock in the aquarium, and your protien skimmer, you may not need the canister at all. Try cycling the tank without it. If you have a major ammonia/nitrite problem after you add your fish (one a time, over the course of several weeks, after the tank is cycled, of course) then add in the canister with the live rock rubble inside.
The live rock will help get rid of Nitrates, through the anerobic process of denitrificaiton. Between that and regular water changes your tank will need anyway, you shouldn't need the nitrate sponge.
I'm not real familiar with chemi-pure, I've only heard it recomended as a problem-solver, not as something to run all the time.
As for the filter floss, a bunch of snails should do a number on any sizable debris in the water. Some people run filter socks in thier sump for this purpose.