Brand new and more than a little confused.

[Aquattro]

This is the fun part for sure. For one, I wouldn't personally stuff 75 pounds of rock in a 50g, I'd go max 50 pounds or your fish won't have anywhere to swim. Also, the cannister should go, sell it and put the money towards something useful (they can contribute to high nitrates).
Buying used rock can be fine, but I would watch for old rock (over 3 or 4 years) and rock that looks freshly scrubbed (someone may have just scrubbed off lots of hair algae to sell it). I'd buy a box of fiji rock from one of our vendors here, it's about 50 pounds at less than 300 bucks. I always go uncured, but I'm a sucker for punishment. I like to give the remaining life the best chance it has, which I think I can do better than the LFS.

Go slow, and everything will fall into place.

[Seth72]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I would watch for old rock (over 3 or 4 years) and rock that looks freshly scrubbed (someone may have just scrubbed off lots of hair algae to sell it).

Go slow, and everything will fall into place.

would it then come back real fast..and if that were to happen how could i get rid of it?

[Aquattro]

Ya, it would probably grow back in a week or two. Nutrient reduction would get rid of it, but that can be a tough balancing act in the first 6 months. And you don't want to deal with a green lawn for a reef when starting out. I'd always go new if possible until you get enough experience to tell what used rock is like.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Also, the cannister should go, sell it and put the money towards something useful (they can contribute to high nitrates).
Go slow, and everything will fall into place.

Brad I would have to disagree with you on the filter. there is nothing wrong with running one of those with just carbon, or for just water movement. I knowwhat you are saying thou the floss and the other crap that you get in the filter will cause the NITRATES to form.

[Aquattro]

Mike, he can sell the cannister for a lot more than a small media reactor is worth, should he feel carbon in a bag isn't enough. I would suggest a phosban reactor for carbon over a full size cannister. Of course selling might be a hassle, them hey, use what you've got, but ideally, I'd sell, buy what I needed, and spend the extra on beer.

[Joseph Elliott]

The canister is full of bio media and a couple course sponges for the large particles. So if I understand correctly the live rock replaces bioballs etc in the canister as the bio-filtration (ammonia-nitrite-nitrate). If I get rid of the canister filter and buy another hydor powerhead then I'll be ahead in the long run?

[Aquattro]

Correct!

[Joseph Elliott]

My tank isn't drilled can someone post pictures of how to set up an non drilled tank for a sump? DIY is not a problem for me.

[Aquattro]

You would need to buy an overflow box, which will overflow on you one day. Really think about drilling the tank

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by Joseph Elliott

My tank isn't drilled can someone post pictures of how to set up an non drilled tank for a sump? DIY is not a problem for me.

While sumps are nice to have and allow your display have a cleaner look, they are not mandatory to run a succesfull SW system. I've been sumpless since I set up my used system almost 4 years ago. I do have a future build in the works for a larger system with basement sump though. Other than the detraction of more visible equipment in and around the display of a sumpless set up, it can actually be simpler and ... gasp ... safer than something with a sump. BTW, I have a mini sump... it's a Rena XP series canister filter running empty except for a small amount of carbon.