Haven't done much but picking it up now

So I have had my tank close to a year now but for several months have not done much but my water changes and checks. I am picking it back up now (having some extra cash lately).

55 gallon, 60lbs figi pink live sand, 50-55lbs live rock, 3 hermits, 8 nasarius snail, 2 tomato clowns, 10 gallon sump, Coralife Super Skimmer, and 25 micron bag oh and a mangrove. Well through out all my water changs always battled nitrates to no avail, diy denitrifier coming to my tank soon. I just added another 20lbs (which brings my total to 60lbs added into the tank) because of some threads I read here and other forums of not having a proper dsb and the problems it might be creating.

I have very few threads in several forums about air stones in sumps and the few that I have read indicate that air stones in a sump is excellent. Are there any real benefits if any to adding air stones to the sump?

Here are some pics before adding the sand(storm).

 

do you have any recent pics? or are the pictures above showing 60# of LR? if so, i'd double the LR....bump it up to 100-120# total depending upon how porous the LR is that you buy. with that exception, you may also want to hide that equipment somehow (background, paint the glass, etc.)...but that's just my opinion. i don't know what benefits an airstone would bring to your sump so i cannot comment on that opinion. besides that, your tank looks very clean and hopefully you'll fall into some cash and be able to continue with it.....

 

These pics are from no more than a week ago so the only thing that is missing is the 20 lbs of live sand. I wanted to paint it when I move but completely forgot so I have to buy a "paper" background. Thanks jonathan

 

Air stones in the sump are a great idea what that does is help to keep the 0'2 levels at near total saturation of dissolved oxygen . it also helps lower nitrate and binds up phosphates..Plus it Just keeps a system a lot healthier ..If more did this they would have far less problems keeping tangs and butterflies ..

 

Thanks tankster I had bought two air stones at walmart and they are running already lol had them on stand by.