update and advice

[shroomie2u]

hey guys and gals! been MIA for awhile due to numerous health issues. had a little scare but i'm ok !
my sister gave us a 85 gallon used tank! i'm super excited!

have to clean it and all that good stuff, but i was looking for some advice. what kinda filter system, heater, basic lights, protein skimmer etc. would everyone recommend? i need good stuff but also reasonably priced stuff.
it has a wall glued to the back of it so that's a big job by itself! my boyfriend will be busy with that for a while.
oh BTW for those of you that know my brother's situation, he got denied to go back to Iraq, which makes me sooooooo happy! he said is WILL go back, he shouldn't be here while his friends are fighting over there. i am just happy to have more time with him.
ok thanks and i'll be on to check for that advice

 

[oneradtek]

i would recommend a 29 gal sump system for a filter. Grab yourself a used tank, an overflow( CPR makes a good overflow that has a automatic re-start in case of loss of power) and a return pump ( rio makes decent ones at a decent price). With that sump you can then buy a in-sump style protein skimmer(i just bought a aqua-medic t-1000 recirculating for about 220$) and that would give you a nice filter system. Jager heaters are nice, but get two of them that are around 150 watts each, in case of a failure. tunze power heads are a nice pump, but maxi-jets are more cheaper in price and work decent. As far as lighting, if you are not going all out crazy reef, just got some coral life fluorescents, they're cheaper in cost and wont give you a heat issues.
Hope this helps, im sure other people will have better advice

 

[shroomie2u]

thanks for responding!
who would have thought that cleaning a tank would be so much trouble! we got about half of the tank cleaned out so far.
i don;t want to go all out reef cause i seem to be fish intolerant. they all die when i try to care for them so i let everyone else do it! i think it's like having a green thumb

ok thanks
any other advice?