15g Reef Tank

2 clowns in a 15 gallon is a pretty high bio-load . . . trust me, the tank is one of the cheaper things in a reef setup. I would look on craigslist for a used glass 40 breeder and use the 15 as a sump. it has an AWESOME footprint and a good amount of water volume for a little lee-way in your parameters . . . something all of us needed when we first got going.

~Will.

 

Yeah im definitely not going to be buying anything in the way of fish for atleast a month. Should I go with live sand or live rock?

 

Yes, definitely go with the live rock. Great source of natural filtration. As far as live sand, some people say it's just a gimmick. You can buy regular sand and add a cup of sand from an established tank and get close to the same result for a cheaper price or you can buy the bags of live sand. It all depends on who you ask. Personally I went with the bags of live sand when I started, but it's up to you.

 

I have a question about live substrates. What makes it living is just the bacteria growing on it correct? Does it come this way from the store or does it have to culture in my tank?

 

Correct, there is plenty of bacteria growing in and on it plus various other little things. And both, it will come with a little in the bags but it will culture more as your tank cycles.

 

And mixing salt walter. How should I do that for the first time. Is it alright to do it in the tank?

 

For the first time here's what I did. Fill the tank roughly 3/4 of the way and add your salt, this way it's easier to adjust because you can add more water if it's too high and it leaves room for the substrate. But for future reference, you have to mix it outside of the tank and let it sit for at least 24 hours and put a heater in your mixing bucket so the temps match.

 

How deep a layer of substrate should i use?

 

2-3"