Adding water and testing

[clowns77]

My live rock and sand are due to be here on Tuesday. I have 30 gals of water made up for when it gets here, so my question is, should I wait for everything to get here, or should I put the water in the tank now and let it stableize, I.E. Test, temp and so forth..Also, can someone tell me everything I should be testing for. I know the Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, and salinity, I have the Marine Lab kit, by Red Sea, and also bought the Calcium and phosphate kit to go with it. I also heard that when I start up the tank I should keep just the Actinic lights on for 6 hours a day, but for how long?
30 gal
300 gph filter
110w White light
110w Actinic light
45lbs MI rock
50lbs figi ls
eheim outside filter to use for water flow
also, should I use the charcol in the filter or not
Thanks in advance

 

[karlas]

you should get the water in the tank and get the salt, ph, and temp in order. before adding anything. for the beginning let it go a couple of days then start testing you will get ammonia first then after that gets to the highest point then the other stuff will start showing up. (trites and trates). your calcium you dont have to worry about right away that can come later. another kit you should have is a alkalinity test. as far as cycling most say keep your lights off to help minimize alge growth. charcoal that depends some people use it sometimes others all the time. i use some all the time helps keep the water clean

 

[dad]

karlas is right,
The only I can add is that you keep daily memos of your readings.
Keep us informed and good luck. Sounds like you are your way to a reef,