Newbie in Newton

[indigo]

Hi

I'm new to Saltwater and am starting a nano reef tank. So far I have

BioCube 14 with PC lights (used)
MJ1200 with Hydor Flo + Sapphire BC14 skimmer + filter material in 2nd compartment
RO/DI water at 1.024 for nearly a week
10 pounds dry sand seeded with 1 pound LS, in tank for 2 days
5 pounds LR from a BRS member, in tank for 2 days

6 more pounds of mailorder LR and some live mud should arrive tomorrow.

I plan to set up two fuges with 1W LED lights going in compartments 1 and 3 with chaeto (for nitrogen) in one and ulva (for pods and nitro) in the other.

Questions:

Could someone near Newton donate a handful of chaeto?
I think I need a plant to start the ulva, where may I get that?
With transferred LR and a bit of LS in for 2 days, I have been told that my new (cured) mailordered LR should only need a few days to recover. When Ammonia and Nitrite levels hopefully drop to zero, would the tank be fully cycled?
What should I add first, a fish (to increase the bioload), or some snails (CUC)
The intake compartment (1) has more flow and access to the display area, while the last compartment (3) that used to house the pump has a trickle of water coming in that flows back to the compartment-2 where pump is now. Which would be better for pods?


Thanks
--Jan

[Cheetos]

Welcome! Take it really slow and wait for it to completely cycle. A lot of the "cured" liverock still has a lot of die off and will go through a complete cycle. Don't add anything to the tank until ammonia and nitrates are 0. Some pics of the back chambers might help. I run some chaeto and live rock rubble in chamber 2 in my 12 gal aquapod!

[Moe_K]

Hi Indigo,

http://www.ottoaquarium.com/fishswim.gif

to the Boston Reefers' Society!

I echo what Cheetos said.

Plan out which fish you want. Add them in order of least aggressive to most aggressive, after the cycle is done.
Add the clean up crew whenever. Make sure you acclimate everything slowly.

Good luck.