Hello,
Sorry crazy busy work week (nearly 100 hours). So if I disappear im at my desk in a mess
So for plumbing I wrote a DIY article that should really help you with everything.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...ific-list-parts-required-build-sump-tank.html
It tells you all of the parts you need , where to order them, and how much the cost. It took me several months to find all this information. So hopefully that sorts you out.
More specifically what is your problem? You shouldn't still be cycling by now. It took me about 4 months with is long but a year! Try a trick.... give your tank a couple vodka shots. It breaks nitrates. do it over the course of a week... thats how I finished cycling my tank getting nitrates to zero.
If you dont have a skimmer - you should consider it extremely strongly. If you dont have a sump tank you should consider that too because if your skimmer ever overflows you want it to overflow into your sump - not onto your floor. The skimmer for a 50 gallon should actually be rated for 65 gallons (because your sump will be about 10-15 gallons of water) and should cost $80'ish.
If you dont have an RO/DI you should check out bulkreefsupply.copm. I got their stage 5 system (basic) and its absolutely great. I think it was about $150.
Overall I know the RO/DI, Sump (plumbing), and Skimmer should set you back btwn 350 and 500 which isn't easy month to just come by. But my advice would be to build the sump first. This will take you about a month and cost you about $150 - $300 depending on how many used part you can get online here. Just adding the sump, more live rock to it, and getting macro algae into your tank will be a big help. The skimmer you can then chuck in for about $80 and will be a MASSIVE step in breaking nitrate. Then having a pure water system is an extremely important #3. All of this will make your worries go away. It did for me.
Like I said just focus your time and money on building the sump. While your building it try to sock away another $80 for the Skimmer. Continually check the posts here for a used one being sold. People part with these small skimmers for as little as $30.
I don't really advise buying an RO/DI system used as all the filters in the kit could be "used" meaning you'll buy a $150 for $70 thinking you got a deal and then you'll have to spend $50 buying all new filters and then you'll realize that saving that small margin of cash wasn't worth it.
I hope all these tips help... it's all I really got.
