startup schedule

[adicus]

After all I've read here and there, I have resolved to wait until three weeks before starting the population of my tank. I'm trying to develop a startup schedule. Here are the events/when:

I've already started adding daily calcium supplements.
After it cycles, I'll fire up the protein skimmer.
Lights on - before the end of the three weeks I would think?? But when?
Cleanup crew??
Coral or fish first?

 

[TimSchmidt]

Normally coral first only because of the bio load that each part of the tank adds. Clean up crew add little to no bio load. Corals generally add little or no bio load (but if you feed them the bio load is a bit higher). Fish on the other hand add quite a bit to the bio load so if you add them last (and only a couple at a time) you give the tank enough time to adjust to the new critters.

 

[adicus]

Thanks Tim - I did my first set of water tests today and the tank has cycled. I fired up the light and protein skimmer (took your lead on the skimmer to only be on when the light is on) for an 8 hour cyle. My chiller shipped yesterday, hope to have it by Thursday, but Monday of next week is more likely. I plan to run the light and skimmer from this point on to make sure there will be no surprises when it comes time to start adding stock. I should probably order up a spare bulb and pump for when they fail and have them on hand before I start my additions. I plan to add only one addition a week, starting with the "easy" ones first. By the time I get to the others, my tank should be even more stable.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Just to make sure I typed this out right.

1st Clean up crew (inverts, no fish)
2nd Coral
3rd Fish