This is really good, thanks for all the info. My question is, is having an RO/DI systems a must at first? The salt we are buying comes with a "de-chlorinating" agent, that states we can use tapwater still. We do want to get an RO/DI system but not straight away. After seeing a lot of stuff on here, I have realised how crazy expensive things are in Australia, so we're hoping to skim on RO/DI for a couple of months.

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge! I have a 3 month tank that has been showing hair algae for about 2 weeks. I started phosban in a reactor last week and was wondering why I didn't see an improvement. Thanks to you, I have a new time expectation. I feel much better.

Sorry I forgot to mention that its a FOWLR Tank. I was thinking about putting a Flame angel and Bi-Color Angel

I have had my 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock stank and 100 gallon "sump" Rubbermaid stock tank up and running for a couple years now. I currently have:

Emperor Angel
Blue Hippo Tang
Vlamingii Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Purple Tang
Clown Fish
Damsel
2 Chromis
Neon Dotty

I'm wondering If it will be OK to add a few more fish?

I have been reading your blogs and really appreciate the time you have taken to be detailed and help out us newbies

Ty,I will be doing as you say,I'm getting some live rock straight from an established tank tomorrow.im still bringing up the salinity slowly,nearly there.

Don't forget phosphates. They can inhibit corals from taking in calcium and carbonate.

I have learned more in your blogs tonight than in the weeks I have been a member, keep em coming guy!

I love the coralline and all the invertebrates! Thanks for the information!

Sk8r if you run lights in your refugium on an opposite schedule, do you need to leave these lights off as well?

How long does it take for a tank to "mature?"

This is great information. I am new to the hobby and have been wondering what the hell I am doing wrong that would cause me to get this stuff.

It never crossed my mind that it could just be that my tank is king of new. My tank has been up and running for 6 months now. I just started to think back to when the green hair algae started and I think it started right after I started feeding phyto to my tank.

You just gave me back some of my sanity. Thank you!

Great post.

humm interesting!! as I will be starting my tank here soon..just one question, what do you start you QT tank with??You don't have water that has good bacteria yet..??

Sk8r, thank you for the simple, informative write-up! I was curious what GFO was and how it works, and having done major hair algae battles in the past, this sounds like a definite strategy to use in my next tank design.

I would like to thank you for posting this, this is the proper and complete way to start a tank.