setting up # 2 help!

[nemo1991]

ok so i have a 55 gallon tank with 10 hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, 10 astrea snails, 2 false percula clown fish, a coral banded shrimp, a blue damsel, and a 4 striped damsel, ok so i have about a 1/2 inch a live sand already in the tank and like 40-50 pounds of live rock, i am getting 50 more pounds of live sand so i can have a deeper sand bed, and i am going to get around 20 or 30 more pounds of live rock, i am looking to make it into a reef aquarium. what do i do? should i take the fish out and put them into a different tank for a day and jsut siphon wat out of my tank for it, or do i just put the sand in and the rock and they will be fine?
oh also i am rearranging the live rock i have when i get new ones so it is more fit for a reef aquarium, also if any one has any pictures or ideaas of how to arrange live rock in a cool way let me know, pictures would be great!
thanks everyone in advance

[omard]

Some help here:






Knowing How to Set Up a Marine Aquarium, Adam Blundell M.S.

Your First Reef aquarium: How to Create a Miniature Coral Reef System at Home.
by J. Charles Delbeek B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Sc.

About.com - Saltwater Aquariums 101 "Getting Started" FREE Email Course

Thinking about setting up a saltwater aquarium? (melevsreef.com)

An Introduction to the Marine Aquarium Hobby (Part 1) - Associated Content (Parrothead)

An Introduction to the Marine Aquarium Hobby (Part 2) - Associated Content (Parrothead)

"Getting Started" - Mike Paletta

A List Of Good Beginner Fish

Fish To Be Avoided - I

Fish To Be Avoided - II

Your Aquarium Cleanup Crew

Corals

What They Are and How They Live

by J. Charles Delbeek

"They are mysterious guests from an exotic world. Unlike anything else we keep in an aquarium, they represent the essence of the coral reefs that we try to duplicate in our living rooms. Our success at this effort depends greatly on how well we understand these unusual life forms.

Unfortunately, for the average hobbyist, the increased availability of these animals is not matched by the information available concerning their biology and care. Too often, hobbyists know more about who manufactures their aquarium equipment than basic biological information, or proper identification of the animals they are striving to keep. And yet, without this information it is difficult to provide the optimum conditions that will allow them to grow and reproduce."

Answers to Everything!

Marine Aquarium Articles and FAQ's
WebMedia.com

Learn to Live With It

Adam Blundell M.S.

"...As surprising as it may seem your tank will look ugly at first. This happens to all new marine aquariums as they cycle through their initial filtration phase. Your tank may go brown, and then green, and then red, and then just look junky. It happens. Consequently the one coral you really want to keep may not live. You may struggle to raise the prize fish you originally intended to acquire. It's okay; just learn to love whatever is working for you. Remember, not only is this a hobby, but we are keeping living ecosystems. Special efforts should be put forth to enjoy and appreciate what we are keeping, whatever it may be. It takes time and patience to turn a glass box full of rock into a beautiful, thriving reef tank..."

Good Luck!


Keep us posted on progress!!!!