Possibly starting first ever small FOWLR SW tank and looking for info

[globaldesigns]

Firstly, welcome to Canreef and the the fun realm of salt!

Here are my thoughts to your questions:

1.) Buying from a member would save you some money. Either way, from the store or not, you will have a cycle. Depending if the rock was cycled already, you can still have a smaller cycle as their could be death during transport. If you are using new sand, then most difinately you would have a larger cycle.

2.) Adding both, will mean one cycle... If you do sand, then cycle, but then add rock, you will have some sort of a cycle again. If both are from an existing systems, then the cycle can be minimal.

3.) Once the cycle has ended, based on tests, you could add inverts right away to start cleanup.

4.) Alot of salt, alot of different prices.

5.) Look for complete fixtures, used if you want to save money. The fixture is one of the most important things. I personally recommend Metal Halide, but alot of people have great success with T5HO. Do your research here, buy depending on what you want to try and keep.

6.) Not much more, I guess people keep telling me to keep it simple, so that is what I will tell you.

7.) already posted, so no reply

8.) BEWARE!!! Very addictive Hobby, do at your own risk!!! Have fun!!!