Skipping ahead again to step 4, substrate.
First I installed 100W of heating cable for substrate heating.
Followed buy 100lbs for black sand, 20lbs of Flourite and topped off with 80lbs of Caribsea Eco-Complete. I also added some 50lbs of lace rock, some driftwood and some mopani wood. Here's another FSS to show the result.
All three lights are up again as well