First saltwater tank, thanks everyone.

Sorry im not answering those questions but these pics look so clean you cant even tell you got water in there yet!!!! Great looking tank and good luck 50JC

 

nice build man! Looking good

 

Yep. Or just not run quite right. Either way, its terribly frustrating and ends up being even more expensive as you have to go through and replace all that cheap equipment with the good stuff anyways. K+ to doing it right from the start

 

I also did the same as you. I decided in December to do it and everyone one here on 3reef were so helpful, and LOTS of info on all the threads. I wound up going over the budget I set by two fold, but like you said, having the right equipment from the start is the key!
To answer one of your questions, IMO, you need to check the tank parameters, and ensure that it cycles. Even though you have live rock. it still will. Mine did. Then start with the clean up crew first.
As for whom in the crew, search the threads here and you are sure to find all the answers you need. I started with
20 blue leg hermits
20 scarlet hermits
2 emerald green crabs
2 Sally lightfoot cracbs
15 assorted snails

Good luck, and keep us up to date with your progress. We love pics here. And remember, without pics, it didn't happen! haha

 

1. Depends on who you are, i always get my corals first, but that is just me and how I do my tanks, I like corals more than fish to be honest.
2. Cant really help other than to say a bunch of snails and hermits!
3. No, I don't think so.
4. Very good!!
5. Depends on how big the clams are/what your lights are. MOST corals rely on the sunlight you give them to grow/prosper.
6. Don't now if there is really one food you should use, you really need to get a good variety and check out their eating habits, Rod's Food has just about everything you will need to feed your fish/corals, I love that stuff
7. A few pieces of live rock rubble, If I ever did a fuge/sump I would get the most bad a@@ fish and put him down there! ;D
8. Again, depends on who you are and what you prefer, anywhere from 8-12 hours is fine. BUT if your tank is cycling I would leave them off, it will only lead to algae problems.
9. Hmm, I don't really know, many people set up dusk to dawn affects to mimic the natural sun as much as possible.

BTW SWEET TANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks JC. I'm trying my best.

Thank you, I'm glad you like it. If you ask me to do the same setup again then I bet you I can't do it.

To be honest, I wanted to stop the project as soon as I got the tank and stand, because I was scared. But this is like a poker game, I'm already committed so I have to follow through. 8)

Can I ask you how big is your tank? For 90gal tank should I buy less or the same amount as your tank?

Thanks for the advise.

I like corals too, but I think I need to read more before buying them.

About #3, Seachem support told me just to be safe I should use prime. My concerns is that if I can avoid chemicals then the tank will be better off.

I like your style, if the fish is bad the sump is their home ;D

Thanks for the advise guys.

 

I forgot to mention, I also have a 25W UV. When should I use it? and how many hours a day should I leave it on?