tank setup...kinda...

[info_sponge]

ok I don't have a tank as of yet, but am doing as much research as I can.
Would the following make sense? ( just checking to see I am understanding what I'm reading)
75-90 tank.
LS/LR (correct amounts will be calculated)
this should take care of most of my biological filtering yes?
protein skimmer
what works better? I hate going somewhere and reading hype. I read there is a new venturi skimmer out there that outperforms all others and has next to zero problems. I also read the downdraft or downflow skimmers work better. opinions? I'm going with an in sump skimmer.
sump I like will have trays for chemical filtration. bags of carbon etc.
do the boi balls go INTO the sump itself or would it be better to have them in a tray and add LR to the sump itself also. Or is the tank LR good enough? Should I add some caulerpa? basically I get the idea behind this type of filtration, but there are so many setups and opinions, I don't know what the CORRECT one might be.
sorry so long... all opinions appreciated.

 

[info_sponge]

PS
Everywhere I go, the dealers assume the customers KNOW what they want. Is there a place I can dig around that has DETAILED setups shown?

 

[daluminum]

details are hard to come by. but you can expect MANY opinions.. mine is that I would not use bio ball's. . they are not a magical creature that destroys all things. they are just a cheaper way to add surface space.. you would be much better off with live rock in the sump than bio ball's.. noone has ever said "I need to remove my lR" but lots of people have asked about removing BB's.. So I would not start out with them.. you are right about the insump skimmer its the best way to go.. dont want that ugly thing in the tank.. I use a down draft venturi.. basically it sucks the right amount of air with the right amount of water.. this gives great foam.. I would stay away from a air stone skimmer.. this just adds a noisy air pump and doesnt seem to work as well.. but you seem to be on a great track.. enjoy your new hobby.. or should I say addiction.

 

[info_sponge]

ok you just blew my mind... heheh
I thought there were three types of skimmers.
downdraft, venturi, and counter current.
is a downdraft venturi a cross between the two?
also... what is the main reasoning behind having a 75 gallon tank with 100lbs of LR adnd a DSB, then ADDING LR to your sump? doesn't the LR in your tank do the job or is it simply looked upon as.... You can't have too much LR.
and boy oh boy am I addicted... Thank the stars I found this forum otherwise I'b be lost. Everyone here is nice and there is a ton of info.

 

[daluminum]

someone is gonna kick me for this.. but I basically see 2 types of skimmer.. a venturi and an airstone (plus that weird new triangle thing) but a venturi is something that draw's "current" from a faster current flowing by it.. so basically.. if it has a water pump and a hose going into the atmoshpere.. I call it a venturi.. but it it has a water pump for water.. and a air pump(and airstone) for air.. then it is a airstone (actually a chunk of wood) this is the main thing that I consider.. the down draft refers to contact time.. Ie.. if you pump water in at 20 feet high.. and drain it at 2 feet high.. you have 18 feet of exposure time.. allowing ALOT more time for the bubble to touch the "funk" that you want to get out.. granted this is a HUGE exaggeration.. but you get the point. but anyway.. my point is. I would not buy a skimmer that "needs a air pump" just look at the design.. its a piece of pvc with a chunk of wood.. its just not engineered as well.. IMO.. but its been around longer than I have been on this earth.. so who am I to judge..