First tank

[GongShow]

Yeah i know i wouldnt be able to afford to stock live rock for a tank that big trying to even get close to the recommended 1lb of rock per gallon . The Biocube sounds like a good idea but from what i have read they seemed to have ballast problems and what would be recomended doind to it after stock that is cheap to make it a better system (i.e. remove bioballs add carbon filtration and buy the protien skimmer)

[edikpok]

I have a biocube and the ballasts are OK so far....

You can totally run the system WITHOUT any modification....All I did was to add a bag with carbon to compartment #2 and thatz it...
Of course you could make a refugium in compartment 2 with live rock which would be better than bioballs - but bioballs do work if you do the proper water changes and monitor the amounts of food that you give to your fish.

AND - biocubes look very slick and nice! ex. http://picasaweb.google.ca/edikpok/29gBiocube#

Also - check craigslist if you have it in Edmonton. Sometimes you can find cheap biocubes ()$300) there

[mark]

Buy and Sell here is great, lots of things come up.

What type of reef ? LPS/SPS etc, makes a difference in light. Have you thought on the on-going costs (salt, test kits etc)? Plan for water; treated tap, a ro/di system, buying store water?