It's been a long time so I am posting as new
Previously (about 10 years or more ago) had a 250 litre reef tanks with sump etc. Got out of the hobby while spending time travelling, but now...
New house, new locality and free time, so I have started with a small 52 litre tank (a bit more than 13 US gallons) which can become a quarintine tank if/as I expand. It's a self contained system with over head filter and lights. Heater ordered, but it's summer here so no hurry.
So far, tank and stand assembled, water, substrate and small "Texas holey rock" added. I am using natural seawater (I live in a clean locality) To encourage cycling I went down to the foreshore and got a few small hermit crabs, a small cockle shell, two nassarius snails etc. You know, the tough critters that survive dirty shallow rock pools in the midday sun at high temperatures (which was where I picked them up from).
Time to start watching the nitrites, do a few water changes and be patient