I would like your opinions regarding my planned method and order to establish my aquarium. The tank is an acrylic 65 gallon SeaClear System II (48 X 15 X 20). I intend to use two 24" UV Lighting Actinic White VHO lights w/internal reflector) [FR20T12/ATW/VHA] daytime lights (http://www.uvlco.com/aqualamps.htm) and a TheLebos 3 unit moon light system (http://www.thelebos.com/how_many.html).

I am reestablishing it after an unchosen hiatus of several years. I am trying to establish a FOWLR tank, with Lionfish as the piscean residents. This will be my first attempt at a significant invertebrate population. however, I've successfully kept a few invertebrates before, but not this many.

Step 1 - Wet sand minor scratches on tank. Wash with vinegar solution, and then with HDL "No Streaks!(http://www.hdltd.com/products/p_nostreaks.html). Rinse extremely well.

Step 2 - Add Medium crushed coral and aragonite sand to a depth of 2" - 3".

Step 3 - Fill tank with saltware made with Crystal Sea MarineMix (http://www.meisalt.com/products/prod_csmm.html), and self-produced RO/DI water.

Step 4 - Turn on filtration pump and allow to circulate for 24 hours, thoroughly mixing salt.

Step 5 - Add HDL "Right Now! Bacteria" (http://www.hdltd.com/products/p_rightnow.html) to promote nitrogen cycling.

Step 6 - Establish aeration and heater.

Step 7 - Wait several days, checking water daily.

Step 8 - Turn off pumps (water level will fall below level of sluice gate).

Step 9 - Remove and retain 10% - 20% of water, to facilitate adding live rock and aquascaping.

Step 10 - Add 50lbs of Deco Rock from Live Rock N Reef (http://www.liverocknreef.com/store.php?crn=66&rn=277&action=show_detail), 30lbs of Cherry Picked Rock (http://www.liverocknreef.com/store.php?crn=66&rn=279&action=show_detail), and various items of non-living barnacles and coral, aquascaping as I go.

Step 11 - Return water sufficient to fill tank, restart hardware.

Step 12 - Wait a week, checking water daily.

Step 13 - Carefully introduce Indo-Pacific Sea Farms "Live Sand Activator Plus" (http://www.ipsf.com/lsactivator.html).

Step 14 - Carefully introduce MarineDepot "Tank Cleaner Crew Basic" (http://www.marinedepotlive.com/tank-cleaner-crew-basic-50-gallon-tank-tank-cleaners.html), seven (7) "Sexy Shrimp" [Thor Ambeonesis] (http://www.marinedepotlive.com/sexy-shrimp---thor-ambeonesis-inverts--shrimp.html), and seven (7) Hawaiian Feather Dusters (http://www.marinedepotlive.com/feather-duster--hawaiian----sabella-species-inverts--featherdusters.html).

Step 15 - Wait 2 weeks, checking water daily, feeding inverts Phytoplankton semi-daily.

Step 16 - When everything OK, establish protein skimmer and begin lighting cycle (VHO-day, Moon-night).

Step 17 - Introduce two (2) Black Volitan Lionfish.

Step 18 - Feed Lions live fish and inverts Phytoplankton semi-weekly (alternating days).

Thanks,
Brian