New Tank Set-up

[snowquest]

:help:
I have been an aquarium enthusiast for years! I have successfully kept a freshwater tank for the past 8 years - and a Brackish Tank for the past 3. My original Figure 8 Puffer is still going strong, so I think I'm doing something right!!
My husband as an early Christmas Present decided to get me a saltwater aquarium kit - more than likely since I have been researching and exploring the saltwater world for the past two years. I've read up alot on what to do and what not to do.
Here's what he bought for me so far:
Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
Coral Life Creep Eliminator
Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix
Hydrometer
Blue Moon Reef Bulb for the hood
Floating Thermometer
30 Gallon Wide Tank
Bio Wheel Filtration System
Tank Heater/Cooler
What else do I need to get to set it up, and make it thrive for the 6 weeks before I can introduce fish and inverts? I'd like to use live sand for the bottom so I can add Shaving Brushes and Urchins. I'd also like to have a pink tip anemone for 2 Clown Fish I'd like to have.
Please help me with what I need and should do before adding anything, how to cycle a saltwater tank for the six weeks, and what I should add while the cycle is in process.
Thank you all! I'm so excited!!
Colleen
:happyfish

 

[sjgsm]

you're gonna need quite a bit more stuff... I would suggest about 30lbs Livesand and 25-40 Lbs Liverock(depending on what type of tank you want...40 for reef,25 or so for fish...just for filtration purposes and looks)...as you begin the cycle you can add a piece of raw shrimp to build up ammonia levels...after about a week I'd add a cleaner crew... Blue legged hermit crabs,snails, so forth... nothing too expensive to be on the safe side...after about 3-4 weeks you should be safe for your 2 clowns... (make sure you check your water levels before you do so) they can withstand some levels of ammonia and such because they are hardy fish...but at the end of your cycle you will want no ammonia, no nitrite, 20- nitrate, 8.0-8.4 ph ,salinity with 1.020-1.025(1.023-1.025 preferred) ,dKH 8-12...
See how they do... and if everything is running smooth for several days I'd say add some Shrimp (cleaner,coral banded,camelback,peppermint...your choice)Remember to add a protein skimmer (IMO a Prizm skimmer cheap/effective) now as for urchins...I don't know much about them...ill leave that upto someone else to suggest to you... Anemonies can be tough...but after a couple monts you can hold one for sure with the right water current and light setup... lighting perhaps an Aqualight Pro HQI / Compact Fluorescent / Lunar Light Fixture (150w 10000°K HQI double-ended bulbs,actinic blue compact fluorescent bulbs,and 1-watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED lamps)
Water current (Maxi-Jet 900 should be fine)...make sure you have read up on the anemonies apetites and how they should be fed aswell... but after that i would suggest going with a royal gramma or something along the lines of that aswell... oh and make sure to keep your tank anywhere from 74*-80* (IMO) If i left anything out I will probably add when I wake up later...hoepfully i helped you out... -Lance-