Tons of questions for a cichlids tank

[timmustang]

This is my first post so...Hi everyone. I have had fish most of my life but never really knew much. Just to clean the tank and feed the fish. My setup is a 90gal tank with about 10-12 cichlids I have a emperor 400 and a fluval 405. 2 200watt heaters and a gravel substrate.
1)Any improvments I can make?
2)Whats the best way to reduce nitrates and nitrites?(besides a water change)
3)What are phosphates?
4)I am looking to start breeding cichlids and was told that a sponge filter in a 20long tank would work?
5)And I MIGHT be starting a salt water tank, at least 100 gallons. what are some good starter fish and filters?
Sorry if there are too many questions, but I dont want to start a million posts and clutter up the forums.
Finally, I have been seeing alot of skimmers and wet/dry filters and not sure if these are worth it or not.
Thanks for the help

 

[me_wee_todded]

1. make sure all of your cichlids wont outgrow your tanks.
2. plants and water change are the best.
3. a salt of phosphoric acid
4. that will work only for smaller cichlids like convicts and smaller
5.wet/drys or just the same filters you are using on fresh
just cycle them in the salt water. damsels are very hardy SW fish they are good to satrt with

hope this helps man and welcome to ]V[FK

 

[dovii88]

1)Any improvments I can make? always be ready to upgrade with cichlids.
2)Whats the best way to reduce nitrates and nitrites?(besides a water change) plants...carbon..and lots of it...good filtration...water changes dont overstock
3)What are phosphates? already answered..usually caused from over feeding, and overstocking
4)I am looking to start breeding cichlids and was told that a sponge filter in a 20long tank would work?yeah sponge filter are used alot because they dont suck up babies..and usually have good bacteria colonies...
5)And I MIGHT be starting a salt water tank, at least 100 gallons. what are some good starter fish and filters?i would do a wet dry of 40 gallons..with lots of bio media..damsels.....live rock..
Sorry if there are too many questions, but I dont want to start a million posts and clutter up the forums.
Finally, I have been seeing alot of skimmers and wet/dry filters and not sure if these are worth it or not.skimmers are good if u have live rock cause they take out dissolved nutrients out of the water..and wet dry can hold alot of bacteria colonies wich stabalizes your tank and keeps it cycled

any other questions ill be glad to help

 

[timmustang]

what kind of live plants should I look for? I dont have a ton of money to spend so Im looking for the biggest bang for my buck. Also, with having live plants will I need a CO2 tank on my fish tank?

I have been looking at dr. fosters website and it seems this is the place for most of my needs and is cheap. Are there any other website you guys recommend?