starting up tank.. need some help :)

[psariandras]

Haven't posted on here for a while, been busy. I am going to start up my tank, I think I am making this more complicated than it should be, but I am not sure about cycling the tank(and some other things). I have spent the last few months researching MMLR and creating my own. I think that it is time to start the tank and I want to make sure that I start right.
I need some advice.

The situation


I have 55 gallon tank ready,
I want to use berlin system of filtration and have DSB(if appropriate)
I have 35lbs LFS sand, 20lbs LFS live sand, x lbs pulverised limestone
Havn't bought the Live Rock yet. I plan on ordering some from online and buying using rubble
I have lots of MMLR, but it will not be ready for ~2 months
It will take some time for the rock to ship
I plan on having beginning corals(maybe leather corals), and some green chromis, shrimp, and some other inverts, I am not really sure about what corals/inverts I can add.What I need help with


I am not sure where I can get amonium cloride solution or regent grade NH4CI, to start cycle or if I can use what I bought from the store --- it is clear ammonia, "ingrediants: soft water, ammonium hydroxide, quality control agents. contains no phosphorus" and it doesn't foam up if I shake it. I don't want to use a shrimp b/c I am afraid I will make the house stink, also don't want to use damsels b/c that method seems difficult)
the depth of DSB, I was thinking ~75 lbs, (35lbs sand, 20lbs live sand, rest pulverised limestone) I havne't figured out how deep that will be in a 55, I mean I don't want to have half the tank filled with sand, but I would like to have it deep enough to help the bio-filtration.
not sure if I should put the sand and pulverised limestone in the tank, then put the water in and wait for the rock to arrive then add the LS and LR and start the cycle... or if I should put in all the sand and add water then wait for my MMLR to cure and buy LR once it is safe.I could have the DSB and some rubble in the tank cycling until my MMLR cures, but I am not sure what to do.
I was planning on letting the tank cycle for 1 month before adding anything but I was reading in a book that said inverts can be added sooner than fish... I want to make sure I don't do it too soon.
should I use cycle to increase bacterial colonization? I am wary of adding it but I can't seem to find conclusive evidence for using it or not.
I am not sure which corals I should choose, of course I would like something colorful and interesting but I need something that is for beginners and something that I can care for... my lighting is limited to fluorscent bulbs. I need some advice on some good beginner corals.
I am on the fence between buying a protein skimmer or not, I have heard that with smaller tanks water changes can take the place of the PS, but I am not sure with 55 gallon.I apologize this post is so long.

:) Thanks for any help :)

[archer772]

Well to start 75lbs of sand should give you around 3-4 inches and that will work but if you can add another 15lbs that would be even better. Not sure what MMLR is but all you need to do to cycle is to add all of your sand and the LR, if you buy it online it will need to be cured so just add it to your tank and that will be enough to cycle your tank. You will need to watch your water parameters, when ammonia and nitrites are zero you will see your nitrates start to climb then do a wc and you will be ready to start adding live stock. I have run tanks with and without skimmers, but I always recomend them because of the peace of mind they can give you and I always use one when I go 29 gallons or bigger.

[ooja3k]

when i used a shrimp the cycle was soo fast, and it didn't smell at all...

[salty420]

adding LR may start your cycle but adding pure ammonia will start the cycle nice and fast. ooja3k must have gotton really lucky with the shrimp because those suckers sure can stink up a house! as far as adding inverts you still will probably have to wait 3-4 to be sure through your cycle.

[psariandras]

MMLR = man made live rock, although at this point I guess it is just MMR since it is not live atm, at least not in the sense of using it in a tank.

salty, is that 3-4 months?

anyone have any good beginner coral suggestions?

also- do you think the ammonia cleaning product will be safe? I quoted the ingrediants.

[salty420]

no 3-4 weeks, sorry... good beginner corals would be mushrooms, soft corals (gsp, green polyps, xenia, etc.) they are pretty forgiving. no idea about cleaning ammonia, sorry.