New reef setup

OK watch out here I am! I know just enough to make me dangerous!Need help with a new setup. Here is what I have: (Picutred below) 38 Gal, approx 20 lbs live rock, 15 lbs base rock, Fluval 205 filter, 1 MaxiJet 400 Powerhead and a 12 man cleaner crew. I just ordered my lights today (156 watt T5 HO system). Question is flow... The fluval filter moves 180 gph and the MaxiJet 400 moves 110 gph. Is this enough flow for most reef? Does the filter count in the total flow equation (Stupid question I know)? Some have said I need to add a MJ1200. I am also looking at the Hydro FLO Rotating Deflector on Foster and Smith. All of your input is greatly appreciated! Need all the help I can get.

Tank has already cycled. I removed all of the starter fish (the were in the tank for 8 months) before I added the cleaning crew. Parameters: Salinity 1.022 PH 8.3 Alkalinity 240 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 10 Ammonia 0.25. I know the ammonia is high. It was 0 last month. I just did a water change last night.

Here is my setup:

 

Welcome to 3 reef aropfor1
and congrats on the new set up

flow - The fluval does count so you have a total of 290 gph which in a 38 gallon tank only works out at 7.6 x volume per hour

for soft corals, if that's what you want to keep, 20 x tank volume per hour would be a reasonable starting point
so the addition of the maxijet which generates 400 gph would take you up to 18 x tank volume and that may well be adequate for many soft corals and fleshy LPS corals.

I would put the existing Maxijet on same side of tank as fluval return, and then have the new maxijet on opposite side, that way you will get some chaotic flow in the middle of the tank where the water from pumps on either side meet
then adjust positioning in future if required (coral reaction, sand being moved, etc)


for SPS coral, then 50 x or more would be a target IME

so a lot depends on what you ultimately want to keep
but IMO, in order to ensure the live rock, or in reality the bacteria colonizing the live rock, receive a constant supply of nutrient rich water to process, you will need to add to the flow you already have once you start stocking the tank up.

 

Your salinity is a little low. You want it to be in the 1.023-1.026 range ideally.The rotating deflector is an excellant choice for that sized tank. I swear by them. They give you a random flow without the expense of a wave maker.Good luck and welcome to 3reef.8)