Oopps sent it before I finished the post. Here are some questions I would like answered before I start in on the project.
-does a 9 gallon tank need a power head and/ or a protein skimmer?
9G - Powerhead if you don't get good flow in all the corners. I was told protein skimmer not necessary if you do decent pwc each week.
-what PAR value would I need so I can grow any coral I want?
Probably someone with more experience would be better, but 38 is what I was told.
-is the cycling of a SW tank similar to that of a FW? Ammonia to Nitrates to Nitrites to fish? Similar as you mention. The live rock (LR) and live sand (LS) are BB breeding grounds and they help the cycle move more quickly.
People said LS isn't necessary, but since you have a small tank I would do it.
I started my little tank 4 months ago and used LS and about half LR, only because I had about 80 lbs of rock from a hobbyist (for $10), wasn't live.
-is live sand and rock preferable to inorganic.
Are you meaning manufactured rock, because I don't specifically know myself, which brands are ok or not, but the advantage is that it doesn't remove rock from active reefs or harm ocean habitat and there shouldn't be any bad hitchhikers on there. Unless it has been cycling in the lfs tanks, then there could be hitch hikers.
-can I use declorinated tap water or do I need R/O water at all times? RO/ DI (deionized) because you don't want there to be silicates in the water, and RO/DI makes it very clean. Removes the heavy metals and Chlorine/Chloramines.
oh and true, most lfs don't know that much, unless it is a specialty SW or reef store, then your chances are better but not great!
Most often I have been told the wrong thing from every store I have been to...not always all wrong, just not really all right.
I am a sw noob, but I am learning by doing and asking questions to try and get it right!
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