How do I proceed?

[jrnannery]

Hey guys, I am in one of these "which way do I go" scenarios. I am going to do a massive overhaul of my entire system. I will be adding:
an Apex controller with a lot of the trimmings,
an MP10wES with battery backup,
a dimmable replacement LED system (time to say bye-bye to the power compacts),
a wet/dry sump and calflo, an Aquaticlife 115 skimmer, maybe a reactor (don't know anything about them),
other odds (auto feeder, DIY addon refugioum, other neat gadgets) and ends (new rock tailored for look,
sculpted, in-tank 6" sand bed, back panel removal)

All of that is well and good, but here's my issue. What do I do first? All of them are around $300 to pull off, plus or minus, and all of them, arguably, have equally real benefits to the residents of the tank.

I have my own idea where to start, but I want to know what you think.

Thanks
Richard

[Kristy]

Definitely upgrade the lights first. You aren't going to believe the difference. Then do the Vortech and the sump. The controller can wait a bit. The reactor you may decide you don't even need.

[delrio]

Yup lights Hey by any chance are you the guy who gave me the acro frag at the jan meeting ?

[jrnannery]

Yeppers

[hobogato]

i agree with kristy, this would be my order:

lights
sump/calfo
vortek
re-aquascape the tank

then the other gadgets if you feel you still need them (what can i say, i am on a simplicity kick at the moment)

the reason i suggest the sump, then vortek, then rock redo is that adding a sump will give you more stability. the vortek will help keep the detritus moving to the sump and with both of those in place, changing the rock work will have less of an effect on the tank. you will have at least a small cycle when you do the rock, but if your filtration is beefed up, it should be pretty minimal.

[cbianco]

Personally, I'm all about flow and filtration.

1. MP10
2. Skimmer
3. Lighting

Whatever else...

Christopher :)

[delrio]

I need to send you a few pics that acro colored up to a nice green and has tons of polyps