HELP!!! NEWBIE ALERT!!!

[abcha0s]

You don't need a dionizer. You might need a dehumidifier?

I am also a newbie to salt and one thing that I have read is that it is good to follow the 12 month rule. You shouldnt add corals until the tank has been running for at least 12 months. Is this a general rule of thumb?

It isn't really a rule, but it does take a year for a tank to really mature. You can add corals on week two if you like, but as someone else suggested, if your tank crashes you could lose everything - and quickly. More important is the experience that comes with running the tank for a while. You would be surprised at how much there is to learn.

Some advice...

• Don't buy a chiller - use a fan for evaporative cooling
• Don't worry about Ozone or UV
• Consider biopellets or Zeovit, but not right away. Wait at least six months and read what the skeptics say before investing.
• Don't try to stock pile hardware - get the tank up and running and buy what you need.
• Don't under estimate the flow requirements
• Don't rely on your return pump for flow.
• Plan to experiment with a refegium, but not right away - it can wait.
• Buy what you really want now - don't plan to upgrade right away or you are just wasting your money on the first purchase.
• Big ticket items are the skimmer, lighting, live rock, live stock. This is where you will regret cutting corners.
• Be realistic about your budget.
• Google is your friend.