New to hobby, no set up yet.

[sloburn]

Ok I have been doing some reading and research. I currently have a 75 gal. Freshwater set up. What I am wanting to do is convert to a reef tank. So here is where I am at. I read somewhere that you will have better luck the longer you wait after putting live rock in to add corals (6 months seemed to be the ideal amount). So what I was thinking was buying the live rock and letting it cycle for about 6 months (gives me time to buy the other stuff needed for a reef) then slowly adding corals and fish. I currently have no clue which way I wan to go with corals. Probly start out with the easier ones. Do I need special lighting for the live rock? Seems like I read that if I give the live rock plenty of time to mature that really the only thing big I would have to buy is lights and a skimmer because the live rock does the filtration? During this set up time do I need to do water changes? Do I need to run a protein skimmer during this set up time? What about when i go to full on reef. Is a refigum a must?

Thanks in advance for your alls help.

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT !!!

the rock will be ok with Normal output fluorescents but the cool hitchhikers and Coraline algae need better lighting. A skimmer is recommended during cycling and a refugiam is not necessary

[ScruffyRubicon]

HI! Welcome to TRT!

[betamed]

Its great that you are willing to go slow. Skimmer, lights, and live rock are all you really need. Make sure you have some flow in the tank with the rock. If I were you I'd add a sump to the tank and use an asm g2 skimmer and tek 6bulb t5 lights.