This tank has only been running for about 4 months, however the sand and some of the rocks came from my previous 37 gallon tank. The rocks from my old tank i ended up crushing up and using them as rubble rock in my converted wet/dry filter (bio-balls i say NAY to thee). Some might say im crazy for making a reef tank after just 4 months, however the sand and some of the rocks came from my old tank, so that helped establish it pretty fast.
My water parameters are usually Zero everything. I highly recommend a refugium. You all advised i get it, i did, and now my nitrates are ZERO. Thank you aquarium advice.