Ready to fill tank with water

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by Chammy

Looking for advice, or a step by step to getting my reef tank going. I apologize ahead of time if this is posted but I couldn't find any info.

Anyway, tank is ready to go. So I'm wondering what ratio of salt to water goes in the tank? Running a 90 Gallon

And in doing this, am I safe to get my sand in the bottom while my water cylce stabilizes for the next step...adding rock...and/or possibly somefish?

And while I am waiting for the tank to settle down, where would ideal temperature range be for reef fish?

Thanks again. This community has been quite helpful so far.

Ratio of salt to water -- different salt mixes have different densities. Should use a hyrdometer (less accurate) or a refractometer (more accurate). Target 1.026 specific gravity or 35 ppt for a reef tank w/ corals & inverts.

Temperature target 76-82 degrees F. Most try to target 77-79 because it's hard to keep water temperature cool with some much equipment, especially lighting.

start with adding sand & rock. Cycling from new arrival live rock / dry rock will take months due to die offs and ecological succession. Quickest/cheapest way to get a tank cycled is to buy already cycled rock off another hobbyist who is exiting the hobby. Keep on the prowl here and on kijiji, sometimes find it $2 to $3 per pound. If you do this, may just be able to add fish within a week. If trying to do it from scratch using dry / newly imported live rock, will be aprox 3 - 8 weeks before you can get algae under control (depends on your snail/hermits spending)... very touch and go on corals/fish in the mean time with some easy beginner species (softies, shrooms, tough fish etc).

sorry for the ramble, about to go to bed.