New Red Sea Max 250 build.

[CriticalBill]

I am brand new to the reef tank world.

I purchased a RSM 250 about 2 weeks ago. I filled it with
40# of caribsea Araganite sand.
55# caribsea life rock
4# live rock from the LFS
RO/DI water with Red Sea coral pro salt to 1.025sg
In addition to the two pumps in back I have a ecotech mp10 and a hydor coralia.
I currently have no skimmer but I am waiting on a Tunze 9004 DC. (Best skimmer I could find that fit)
I bought a media rack for the back slot on the tank. (Media set up ideas?)
For the six T5 HO lights I was going to do two white, two pink, and two actinic.
I am also wanting to deepen the sand bed with a 20# bag of caribsea Arab-alive Bimini pink.
I have begun to start cycling using the Red Sea reef mature pro.

My question is will the mature pro be enough or should I get a bottle of tims?
Also, what should I get for my entry clean up crew?

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated!

I will add pictures as things progress.

 

[CriticalBill]

 

[TonapahNorth]

Looking good.

 

[CriticalBill]

My one piece of live rock is browning up nicely. The Life Rock is still pristine as the day I put it in. I also added 20lbs live sand. Bimini Pink by Caribsea.
I put in a couple oz of Dr. Tims one and only shortly before adding the clowns. LFS says I should progress relatively quickly.
Tomorrow my cleaning crew shows up. Quite the assortment of snails, hermit crabs, and a couple peppermint shrimp. I even got a couple fighting conches.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I have a c250. I used biospira to cycle, 60 lbs carib bimini pink and close to 50 lbs. Love the tank. I'm using the stock skimmer and seems to do the job. Have fun. I have carbon, gfo, purigen and boyds chemipure in the media, along with a bag of ceramics. They used to be on the bottom of sump but media rank wouldn't go down all the way so they are in the bottom shelf. The carbon that came with the tank was too big. Replaced now with smaller bags.

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R, and this addicting hobby:). Lots of great people here, ask lots of questions, they are happy to help and read read and read some more:D. Take it slow, it's hard , we all know but that's the best advice I can give. Btw your tank looks great.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Yes and welcome from me as well. Great place to ask and receive. Lots of generous folk with their knowledge, even when asked the same questions a zillion times I'm sure

 

[CriticalBill]

I have now added two Clowns. A regular ocillarus and a larger snowflake. They have been getting along splendidly!
My levels yesterday were:
Nitrite: .3
Nitrate: 3
Ammonia: .8
SG: 1.025

I did a 5 gallon water change.

I've been feeding the clowns Seachem Nutridiet flakes or Hikari Brine shrimp freeze dried once a day. I used Julian's Thing to get some food down to the bottom for my 2 peppermint shrimp and 2 emerald crabs. They really like when the flakes make it down to the bottom.
I'm thinking of adding a flamefish next, maybe in a week or so.