Help Needed New to Reef Keeping

[Oldfishman]

I am new to reef keeping and have a lot of scattered questions so please bear with me. It is my goal to set up JBJ 28 Intermediary as close to standard as possible as this is how I sold my wife. When we had a 300 gal fresh water it was money money money. I know most of these questions will be boring or have been answered before but I thought I would ask your expert opinion.

What is the best or a good heater for the this tank?
Should lights be run while cycling the tank?
Does live sand have to be washed? My guess is no.
What sand would you recommend, as I hope to coral and just a couple of small fish?
I think I am going to use dry rock as I think it will be easier for my to build a reef as this is my first time.
I am not happy with ceramic rings in the filter what would you recommend?
what set up in the filter box would you recommend?

Thanks for now
oldfishman

 

[Cliving1]

Jager are pretty good heaters, the 100w may fit on the jbj. I would go with 2, and a controller. Your lights can be on during cycling. You do not have to wash the live sand. I used a bag of caribsea. Dry rock is fine, you will limit yourself to some initial diversity, but I prefer it as well. Do not put ceramic rings in there, live rock is your filter.

 

[Rover88]

I am new to reef keeping and have a lot of scattered questions so please bear with me. It is my goal to set up JBJ 28 Intermediary as close to standard as possible as this is how I sold my wife. When we had a 300 gal fresh water it was money money money. I know most of these questions will be boring or have been answered before but I thought I would ask your expert opinion.

What is the best or a good heater for the this tank? Eheim Jager, probably a 100-150W
Should lights be run while cycling the tank? You don't have to. If you run them bright, you are just promoting the growth of nuisance algae, but it'll go through its cycle either way
Does live sand have to be washed? My guess is no. The bag says no. Unless you want to wash in RODI water, don't. Most people would tell you don't get live sand, its not worth it. You are paying more for wet sand, so you get less sand
What sand would you recommend, as I hope to coral and just a couple of small fish? Aragonite sand. 'Medium' size. Not the sugar powder sand. But its dependent on what kind of fish you want. Some won't do well with the super fine stuff, others don't like crushed coral, etc.

I think I am going to use dry rock as I think it will be easier for my to build a reef as this is my first time. It will take longer, but it will be easier not worrying about handling live rock/storing it etc. If you can get a few SMALL pieces, this will greatly help your cycle and biodiversity, but risks bringing in bad hitchhikers. If you can find local trustworthy reefers,
thats what I did
I am not happy with ceramic rings in the filter what would you recommend?
what set up in the filter box would you recommend? You do not need ceramic rings in your filter. Those are there to promote the growth of beneficial algae; That is what your live rock is for

Thanks for now
oldfishman

 

[Oldfishman]

Thank all the answered this a big help. Tank due tomorrow can't wait.