Good Afternoon!

BWV · Jul 25, 2021

Thanks for having me!

My first salt tank. So far I'm having fairly good luck with everything.

Here's whats in there:
20Lb Black Hawaiian Caribsea Live Sand
10 Lb + one medium arch(2lb?) Caribsea Life Rock
1 fake coral thing and some loose shells from vacations and JoAnn Fabric (for the Hermits when they grow)
Stock Filter, Stock Light, M50 Heater(going to add a backup...)

One each:
Ocellaris Clownfish
Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab
Royal Gramma Basslet
Dwarf Red Leg Crab
Margarita Snail
Cerith Snail
Astraea snail
Neon Blue Goby
Red Banded Trochus Snail
Nassarius Snail
Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Azure Damsel, Kupang Damsel
Spiny Star Astraea

I'm about 3 weeks in, it took about a week to cycle with just the clown and 1 crab, did a damsel 3 snails and another crab at the end of week 2, just put the last two fish, snails, and shrimp in yesterday. Feeding Omega pellets, Freeze dried brine shrimp, and a tiny bit of nuri seaweed.
I realize I probably rushed it... but I'm watching close, prepared to change water, and will keep an eye on the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates to make sure the cycle is good.
The fish I have now are all I plan to have. Might add a crab or two, and a snail or two.
In a couple weeks(maybe a month) I may consider some Green star polyps or something easily kept.

I need to get a decent test kit before I do coral, any suggestions?
(been using tetra strips, but worry about accuracy when I do coral)

First coral suggestions would be great as well.

Thanks!