75 Gallon fowlr

[jackwkahn]

I am planning a 75 gallon fowlr (maybe an anemone and some soft/LPS corals down the line), but a sump is out of the question. For filtration, I plan to use base rock, an skimmer rated for 160 gallons, (Odyssea PS 160, I know, bla bla bla, odyssea sucks, but I've heard some good things, and I have no money. lol) A 500 gph canister filter to run mechanical filtration and carbon, 1 power filter to grow mangroves (I have already had success with this on a 40 gal), and another to tumble chaeto. I will also have 1050 gph worth of powerheads on hand. for lighting i will use a 216 watt T5 HO fixture. Questions-

1. regardless of legal issues, can I just use dead rock from the beach? how should I go about sterilizing it?
2. same thing as above except for sand (the sand I would get is from offshore and underwater, fine, grayish sand)
3. Can I initially use Ocean Water to fill the tank and for periodical water changes? I will use distilled water as top off.
4. Can I use Dr. Tim's One and Only to seed the dead rock? I've heard good things. i dont like the look of live rock unless its absolutely covered in coraline, which is 9 bucks a pound at my LFS! (remember, Im on a budget)

[Reefing Madness]

I am planning a 75 gallon fowlr (maybe an anemone and some soft/LPS corals down the line), but a sump is out of the question. For filtration, I plan to use base rock, an skimmer rated for 160 gallons, (Odyssea PS 160, I know, bla bla bla, odyssea sucks, but I've heard some good things, and I have no money. lol) A 500 gph canister filter to run mechanical filtration and carbon, 1 power filter to grow mangroves (I have already had success with this on a 40 gal), and another to tumble chaeto. I will also have 1050 gph worth of powerheads on hand. for lighting i will use a 216 watt T5 HO fixture. Questions-

1. regardless of legal issues, can I just use dead rock from the beach? how should I go about sterilizing it?
Cook it

2. same thing as above except for sand (the sand I would get is from offshore and underwater, fine, grayish sand)
Fresh water rinse

3. Can I initially use Ocean Water to fill the tank and for periodical water changes? I will use distilled water as top off
You can, its done all the time

4. Can I use Dr. Tim's One and Only to seed the dead rock? I've heard good things. i dont like the look of live rock unless its absolutely covered in coraline, which is 9 bucks a pound at my LFS! (remember, Im on a budget)

I wouldn't, but thats just me. With water parameters right, the coralline will take off by itself. Even if you put that stuff in, it will take time to grow. Waste of money if you ask me.

[jackwkahn]

Edit- i just discovered about 50 pounds of extremely porous natural limestone thats been in my yard for many years. Hasn't seen anything liquid in a while. Im just going to thoroughly rinse- would that do the trick?

[Reefing Madness]

Edit- i just discovered about 50 pounds of extremely porous natural limestone thats been in my yard for many years. Hasn't seen anything liquid in a while. Im just going to thoroughly rinse- would that do the trick?

Not quite, you can use it. But its not porus enough to grow all the needed bacteria.

[jackwkahn]

Ecxcuse me if I come across as rude, but how can you be so sure? some of the rock is almost hollow, with the outer surface area being very close to that of the inner. Are you simply determining this by weight?

[Reefing Madness]

Ecxcuse me if I come across as rude, but how can you be so sure? some of the rock is almost hollow, with the outer surface area being very close to that of the inner. Are you simply determining this by weight?

Based off of what I have seen and read in the past, no one I have talked with has filled their untire tank with just LimeStone. And your weight of the rock does add some reasoning to it. But, be my guest, I'm just here to throw out info, doesn't mean you need to use it.