New to saltwater - My plan

Well, after a long day with a lot of reading and some well appreciated guideance in this thread: http://www.3reef.com/forums/diseases/new-saltwater-think-i-have-problem-already-93725.html I think I have a decent plan for where I want to go with my 55 Gal. tank and it appears I need to purchase a few items to have a realistic chance to raise a healthy reef/fish tank.

Skimmer:
Reef Aquarium Filtration & Protein Skimmers: Eshopps In-Sump Protein Skimmers

The reviews seem positive and this seems affordable. My sump has a perfect spot for one (Pro Clear 150 series) but the skimmer it came with is missing most of the parts. Has anyone here had experience with this skimmer?

Phosphorus Control:
Aquarium Phosphate Control: PhosBan Reactor and Parts from Two Little Fishies

Ill prolly get the phos-ban stuff that comes with this. I assume I just hook this up in my return line to the tank?

For added defense against the algae that is hurting my rock right now, I think hermit crabs and emerald crabs will do the trick. How many of each should I get? Id also like to get a few starfish to sift my sand. How much room do I need for them? As you see, its only a 55...Im not sure how big they get. Any other options I should consider?

I also plan to get some purple up, essential elements and coral up additives, a refractometer, a saltwater and phosphorus liquid test kit. I already have PH Buffer. Any other recommendations?

I also have a question about my sump. There are what look like roots growing throughout it...but no plants or anything. Its under the water line, what is this? I also found this little guy on my live rock today.

I dont know if he is good or bad, but I like him. Kinda neat to see something pop up out of nowhere. Gratifying in a way...

Thanks for any advice/comments/constructive criticism!

 

nice looking set up

 

As for the phosphate reactor, you don't put if inline with your return. You put it in a closed loop in your sump. It hangs over the side with its own pump drawing water from the sump, and the processed water flows back into the sump where it's taken back to the display tank.

For the algae, remove it manually, do copious water changes and keep up on the changing out of the phosphate media. As the algae dies, it will further pollute the water--furthering the need for water changes. If you can remove the algae by hand, you're saving yourself time in the battle. You can probably hold back on the Purple Up. It's quite the debate, but IMO if you work on water quality and on keeping calcium alk and mag where they belong, the coralline will come without you having to buy supplements.

 

I agree with reef sparty. Purple up is more of a hoax than anything else. keep your Minerals up with 2 part and your params in check and if you have Coraline in there, it will grow.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys. I just bought all my equip, so hopefully it will be here within the next few days. The skimmer is on backorder till next week which sucks, but Ill live. Tonight Ill be setting up my clean water storage so I can pre mix and dechlorinate my water before doing water changes. What can I clean the containers with? Ive always used a light bleach solution and a good rinsing in freshwater, is that how its done in salt as well?

Ive also filled out a form at reefcleaner (thats a great site!) and studied up on my new feather duster. Thats pretty cool he just popped up out of nowhere like that...theres another smaller one I found too not far from him. When I walk up on em they pop back in with the quickness and slowly come back out. Im impressed.

 

I would not get a sand sifting star. From what i've read, a single sand sifting star is able to eat/sift through an area around 2 square meters a month of sand. The footprint of even the largest tanks rarely approaches this area, then the starfish starves to death. I would only recommend getting a sand sifting star if you have a way to keep the starfish from consuming everything in your sand bed, giving your sand time to repopulate (egg crate/light diffuser on the bottom of your tank should do this, in theory. The starfish wont be able to get at the bottom layer of glass where prey organisms for it can seek shelter and reproduce).