New to reef...need some advice

[CRAP! Another Hobby]

Originally Posted by Myka

Since your rock was previously used in another tank, and was only out of the water for a couple hours you will likely get very little cycle, and it may be over in just a few days.

Since you are very new to this hobby if you answer some questions and post a photo of your tank we can you get off on the right foot.

What are the current water parameters? (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temperature, salinity)
What brand of test kits are you using? How old are they?
Are you using a float arm hydrometer or a refractometer to test salinity?
How often do you test salinity?
Is the sand new or did you get that from another reefer too?
What kind of fish, corals, and critters would you like to keep in your tank?

Thanks again for all the great input

To answer some of your q's...
-params = NH3 is 0; NO2/NO3 no detectable levels; 8.5 pH; salinity 1.023
-Test kit is a NUTRAFIN Master test kit...few months old
-Testing salinity in AM and PM...top up of RO/DI in PM
- Float arm hydrometer (saving up for a refract)
- No sand...just LR for now...got it from another reefer.
- No special lighting (yet)...still searching for a deal on used lights.
- Still researching the fish and what-nots for inhabitants ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A BEGINNER REEFER IS GREATLY WELCOME REGARDING THIS

But speaking of critters...some hitchhikers that we aquired are showing. Looks like dried strands of spaghetti (same size...all under a few inches long) with an orange feathery "thing" coming out the end of the tube. It quickly retracts into the tube as soon as I cast a shadow over it. We don't know if it is a good critter or a pest. ALSO...have a number of critters that are about 2-3 mm long running all over the place. Clear appearance...kinda look like little shrimps.

I'll post some pics later this week.