Great :)

[ALRHA]

well nobody told you to live in canada - he he. i'm sure some others on this board will be able to reccommend some canadian retailers. or you can just try a search on the web and see who sells them.
if you are looking for a hang on filter just for added peace of mind, i would go with the Emporer. I have it and i love it!

[mouse6196]

Keep the Fluval stored away because it's great down the road for emergencies when you will need to run carbon. I cycled all my tanks with Live rock and just noramal output lighting, and a skimmer of course. I then added better lighting when I was ready to to stock the tank. Once the tank is cycled with the live rock, I would add only snails (not a hermit fan but you can add them). Just leave these in to help as your tank goes through it's brown algae cycles etc. You'll go through all the algae cycles. Once the tank is established 9about 5-6 weeks, I start to stock SLOWLY....

It's worked for me with four tanks now....Live rock is the way to go...with a skimmer of course.

[ALRHA]

i would agree. and i do plan on keeping my fluval for emergencies as well.
at what point would you decide to run the tank with carbon?

[littleboyblue16]

i just find the tank so damn nasty right now, i of course don't have my liverock in their yet, should i ass a feeder fish to help cycle? hopyfully getting my liverock tomorrow!

[tang_man_montreal]

Please don't subject a fish to help your tank cycle.
It will cycle just fine with liverock in the tank.
Trust us on that one...

[ALRHA]

furthermore, even if you were to use fish to cycle your tank, you would most likely use damsels as they are the usual suspects being that they are quite hardy. the problem arises when you plan on adding the fish you really want to your tank (the damsels will most probably not be the ideal neighbors bringing cake and cookies) and you will want to get the damsels out. being that this is your first tank, you may not yet realize that once you have live rock in your tank, any fish that goes in most likely must remain there till their demise. it is nearly impossible to net out a fish who is running in and out of all your live rock unless you get a hook and worm. so you want to be sure that anything you put in there, is someone you are looking to have a long-term relationship with.

[ReefVan]

Well said, my thoughts exactly.

Van

[littleboyblue16]

see i like most damsels too haha

but todally understandable

[Tervill]

A great way to cycle a tank without live rock is by simply adding a dead frozen shrimp. I did this to cycle my 90, and it worked awsome. The whole cycling process took about 2 1/2 weeks.

(PS: Where in Alberta to you live, Matt?)

[littleboyblue16]

that sounds like a plann too hehe

i am in Edmonton