Just Starting to add water

[AndrewT]

Hi.

Ive have the following:

Aquaone windsor 66 corner tank (40 gal)
Aquaone canister filter
heater
2 power heads
Skimmer (prizm)
Aqua one lights (ordered & waiting for aquaria T5 lights)
Hydrometer
Salt
Coral Sand
PH Test Kit - Amonia tester

Im getting my water supply through a Bare Bones TFC R/O Unit
Due to water pressure its taking ages :(

I intend to have live rock, corals & approx 7-8 fish.

Everything is setup & ready, ive added 5 gal of water to the tank.

A few questions:

Should i be running the filter, heater, powerheads now, or wait until the tank is half full or full?

When should i add salt - gradually or in one go when the tank is full or start now?
When should i add the coral sand - now or when full?

Once the tank is to the correct temperature & salt is correct - Can I add the live rock or leave it for a while?

thanks

[OrionGirl]

1--as long as the equipment is submerged enough to run, run it.

2/3. Add salt either time--but if you want to put the substrate it now, you'll want to have an appropriate amount of salt in the waterno. So, if you put the substrate it, add enough salt to bring those 5 gallons up to 1.025. Otherwise, you risk trapping pockets of fresh water within in the substrate. If you add the substrate now, you'll want to continue the salt additions as more water goes in. And, you'll need to be careful adding the water--do it slowly--to avoid stirring up too much of a cloud. Is this aragonite based sand, or crushed coral?

Also--with very few exceptions, 7-8 fish will be way too many for a 40 gallon tank.

[AndrewT]

Thanks for the reply.

Ive got:
seachem reefsalt
aragonite coral sand

I would prefer to fill the tank running the filter/heater as soon as the levels allow me to.

Add salt, coral sand last

Is this OK?

Is there anything else i will need to add before adding live rock?

As you can see im new to this? but i do have patience and dont mind waiting as long as it takes.

How many fish / corals do you suggest?
Im intenting to fill the back with live rock, right to the top so corals are close to the light source.

Or if you have any ideas, or things i should be doing / missed out I would like to hear.

I may also get a UV light at a later date, as i heard this helps clear the water.
thanks