Starting up my first tank

[ahirsch5]

Hi all,
I don't mean to bother anyone or sound stupid on here but I figured this is the best way to get information on starting my tank. I recently got a 12 gallon nano cube from a buddy and I want to start it up. I did about a 75% water change when I first got it about 3 days ago. It has about a 3 lb live rock in there with about 1/2 inch of live sand. I'd like to get an anemone, a false percula clownfish and a black & white false percula clownfish. That's about all I know as of now so I have a few questions:
1. Can I get a black & white percula and a regular percula together?
2. What kind of anemone would be best? I've read alot about BTA's and they seem good to me
3. How much live rock should I have in a 12 gallon tank?
4. What kind of snails, crabs, shrimp and/or hermit crabs would be best?
5. What kind of supplements should I use in the water to balance pH and ammonia levels? also, how to test those levels?
Sorry for all of the questions I'd just like to know what I'm doing before I put lots of money into my tank.
Please email me at ohioeliteplaya19@yahoo.com if you can help me
Thanks a lot,
Aaron

 

[spanko]

1. Yes
2. None, the stock tank does not have the correct lighting to support an anemone and any anemone even with the correct lighting would outgrow a 12 gallon tank.
3. No correct answer here but normally you will get 1 - 1.5 lbs of rock per gallon in a saltwater reef tank.
4. Cerith, Nerites, Nassarius, would be my suggestions.
5. You need to g o aout and get yourself a good test kit. Many folks here use the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. Ammonia, nitrite will be controlled by you biological filtration. Nitrates in this size tank will most likely be controlled by a good water change schedule. Supplements will not be needed here as again a good wate change schedule in this size tank will replenish most of what is neede.
Seems from the questions you are asking you need to do some more research on your own. May I suggest the top 5 threads in this section with the asterisks in front of them. Then with that basic understanding you can develop some more questions to ask.
Welcome to SWF.com, we always like to have a new member pop in. We do like pictures too, so if you can post some up at some point that would be a good thing.

 

[meowzer]

HI, and I'd also like to say welcome to SWF.
Quick question (only cause I am the curious type) Your friend had this tank, and had nothing in it but a piece of rock?
OH...yeah...we like pics a lot here

 

[ahirsch5]

Thanks for your all's help.
He moved most of the stuff he had in here to a larger tank he had bought, he just gave me a little to start out with. Ill do some more research before I purchase anything for sure. I've always had freshwater fish and it's a piece of cake, I wanted a little more of a challenge. I definitely got what I asked for!

 

[florida joe]

Quick question (only cause I am the curious type)
OH...yeah...we like pics a lot here
Nice to see you are on the fast track again lois

 

[bulldog123]

Am I the only one that read his email address? Or the only one that finds it humorous

. Or the only idiot that would ask