Let me try to retype this as somehow my entire browser window was shut down, deleting over half of my original response"¦
First of all, thank you so much for the response! I apologize for taking so long to get back, but I've been out of town for a couple of days without access to a keyboard. I'm going to attempt to answer your questions from your original post, so bear with me a bit.
Is this our first saltwater tank?
1. Sort of. We've had a reef jar up and running for about 3 months or so. However, that is a very small system that receives 75%-100% water changes every week. We do have several freshwater aquariums.
Are we aware of cycling time/bacteria?
2. Yes, although this cycling has been very unique, but most probably due to #3.
Rock / Sand / Filtration
3. The rock and sand I obtained from Tampa Bay Saltwater after reading very good things about it. I am very satisfied with the order. I've followed their instructions and managed to obtain zero ammonia in 6 days. We have a filter sock in the sump.
The Set-Up
4. The aquarium itself I obtained used off of the Louisiana Reef Club Forum (
http://lareefclub.com/community/threads/ada-60f-8g-tank.49002/#post-484133)
It's an 8 gallon-ish reef tank that's since been attached to a 5 gallon sump for a total water volume of 9.5 gallons after the rocks and sand were added. The total order was: 16 lbs rock, 8 lbs sand, 8 hermits, 4 snails, 1 cuke, 1 star, 1 shrimp and 1 Wennerae Mantis (which will possibly eat some of the above) The sump contains 1 filter sock, a Reef Glass Nano Skimmer, Tunze Nano ATO, and an octo pump (I forget the model) I've also added a Hydor Pico Evo-Mag 180 w/a Hydor Flo Rotating Water Deflector into the main tank for added circulation. Heating is provided via a 50w Cobalt Neo-Therm heater in the sump. Finally, lighting is provided by a 24" Current Orbit Marine Aquarium LED, currently running 5hrs per day. At any rate, it's up and running. It's probably got a few copepods in there as well as I poured some in after adding some to the reef jar (the RJ is only about 2 gallons so I had wayyy more copepods than necessary to seed it) I THINK that's about it"¦.
At any rate, it's turned out to be a fun project for my son and I. I do have a video I'll try to post of the current set up. The shipment from TBS came with, I think, all the sand and ½ of the rocks. The rest of the rocks and critters should be arriving Friday or Saturday depending on the shipping arrangements (they fly them out overnight to a nearby airport)
I've debated about the PVC pipe as I like the natural look of rock now, and from what I understand they'll just chip out a burrow from a rock they like. I've also read from several individuals that they really enjoy raw clam meat. The plan is to feed it enough so it doesn't go around murdering all aquarium life"¦. hopefully"¦ We'll see!
That's about it! I may try to see if I can post some video of the setup as it now stands.