First, Thanks. It's always nice to get some feedback.
Second, Patience is the key to success. You do need to take i tslow and realize there are limits. In my case yes I did get some snails and inverts after about 1.5 weeks, which was alot sooner than I had planned. The reason for that was that because of the small amount of live rock the cycle was pretty quick and it stablized pretty quick. I wouldn't suggest adding as much as I did right away. I did stager it by a few days from the snails to the shrimp and crab but it all was still pretty quick. My biggest suggestion is don't push the number of fish you have. Personally I prefer fewer fish anyway.
The biggest factor in my success up to this point has got to be the frequent water changes. For the most part I do them weekly, but every now and then it slips to 1.5-2 weeks but never longer.
I should also point out that I have had some deaths but I feel that all but 1 seem to be from factors other than poisioning from nitrates. I lost 1 firefish due to the fact fish need water ( he jumped out of the tank). I lost the emerald crab to starvation. I lost 1 blue legged hermit to the other blue legged hermit and also one cerith snail to the same blue legged hermit. (see a pattern there? I'd avoid the blue legged hermits it I could do it again, scarlets are much safer IMO) I lost the peppermint shrimp for a unknown reason which I can only speculate was nitrate posioning, or starvation. But I haven't lost any corals other than a mushroom that wouldn't attach and blew away never to be seen again...
Well I can't remember if I answered your question or not, so let me know if you need anything clarified
Oh, and here are the pictures I promised last week...
The latest coral addition Trumpet Coral
Caulastrea curvata...
New Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis...
Unknown Hitchhiker Snail (Whelk?) (middle of picture, salt & pepper shell looking thing)
Full Tank Shot
Cup Close Up
Green Polyps Close Up
