What Am I Missing? Beginner Reed Edition

[mocha 75]

Ok objective: 20 gallon long, macro and soft polyp coral tank.

I’ve got the tank.
I’ve got 20 pounds of live rock. Or dead live rock or live dead rock whatever it is you get from Bulk Reef Supply.
I’ve got 20 pounds of life sand.
I’ve got a thermometer, a heater, a tidal 55 hang on the back filter, and two power heads.
I have an AI prime in the middle of the tank
New aquarium stand will be arriving in a few few days.

No lid. Worried about gas exchange if I got a glass lid. And because this is a 20 gallon long Imaginarium aquarium I don’t really feel like dishing out a ton of money for a custom-made lit.
I’m using instant ocean as the salt mix. I bought myself an RO/DI kit and an automatic water topper.

Should I be dosing anything in the aquarium once it’s up and running? Since it’s macro i was thinking perhaps I need to make sure I’ve got iron going and nitrate and phosphate because those things are gonna be sucking them up like a vacuum.

What am I missing? The setup seems complete sans algae.

One power head is on the left side panel. Hob on the right. Aimed at each other. 2nd power head is tilted upward to help move the surface water. I might remove this depending on how the flow looks after I start stocking.

 

[Mebbid]

Refractometer and test kits?

Id definitely get a heater controller.
I wouldn't worry about dosing anything yet. You're months away from that point. You might need to dose nitrate and phosphate, probably not. You can accomplish a lot with just water changes.

 

[D'sreef]

I would throw some Dr Tim's or another bacteria in just to help jump start bacteria growth. Also beware of too much flow 2 power head and a hob might be a bit much for a 20 gallon. I had a seachem 110 on a 30 turned down all the way and it provided plenty of flow by it's self.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

No need to dose anything for many months.
How did you plan to cycle the tank?

 

[mocha 75]

No need to dose anything for many months.
How did you plan to cycle the tank?

Dr. Tim and microbacter 7

 

[mocha 75]

Refractometer and test kits?

Id definitely get a heater controller.
I wouldn't worry about dosing anything yet. You're months away from that point. You might need to dose nitrate and phosphate, probably not. You can accomplish a lot with just water changes.

Refractometer I’ve got. Test kits i just have the api for: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I'm not familiar with the tims, but normally you also need ammonia along with the bacteria. The ammonia can be pure ammonia or fish food or a raw shrimp, anything that creates waste.

API is fine to get you through the cycle and for general testing. But when you get corals you should upgrade the test kits, the API is not accurate enough. Especially when you want to start dosing, don't dose anything based on API. Salifert ad Hanna are the best IMO.
Good luck