accually i only started out with my tank about 300 dollars.
and every paycheck id use most of it to add more to the tank.
with my winnings(the 300 dollars) i got the tank, filter, sand, begginers kit including salt, hydrometer, themometer, nitrite test, ph test, and alk test. and i had a cheap light. at that point i was reading an outdated book that said live rock was for the experienced only and said to use airstones.. well i got a better book and came here and i had to add a powerhead and i bought 5lbs of live rock bc some is better than none and thats as much as i could afford at that point. i cycled the tank with raw shimp.
it was done cycling in a month and i added my clean up crew- shimp and snails.
then added one clown perc.
and 2 weeks later added another one.
i then upgraded my lights and got 2x65watts coralife pc fixture (2 weeks ago) and just added 15 lbs more of live rock.