Back to the basics.

My friend bought a new Instant ocean 29gallon salt water starter tank kit.

http://marineland.com/sites/Marineland/products/productdetail.aspx?id=2054&cid=1920&mid=3227

So I am helping him build his tank in a day or two, but since has been a while and did not really pay attention when I first started. I also have 29 gallon tank, but have kinda forgotten how many sand and rocks should be in the tank, and how the cycle process operates. The only process I can remember from when I first started is..

1. add water.
2. add the rocks first, so the rock does not collapse accedently.
3. Place the sands.

That being the only part I remember "clearly" I have forgotten how the cycle process starts, and how it operates.

So if you 3reefers can help me, How many sands and rocks should be in the 30 gallon tank?

Still being cluless how strong the lighting on this thing is, I hear it should atleast be able to support GPS, Kenya, Lethers, Mushrooms?

and last but not least, how does the cycle process work?

Thank you for your help, also a good time to go over the basics for my self haha.

 

LR should be added at about 1 - 2 lb's per gallon. More personal preference. Sand, I am not sure on. I went with I think a 25lb bag for my 29g? Thus creating a 3" SB. Go with 12-20 lb sand for a SSB. I would go with argonite base if I did it again.

-Add water
-mix salt & water.
-Add sand, allow to settle
-Add rocks, move sand out from under rocks. If you add the rocks before sand, you will have sand everywhere, all over the rock
-Have your friend go with all base rock. Give him a piece of your cured LR. This will help spread the coraline & speed the cycle process a bit, and no unwanted hitch hikers will be allowed in his tank.
-This cycle should take about 6-8 weeks.

Edit: test water params, weekly. You will see a spike eventually, then this will slowly level out to 0. When it reaches 0, you should be good to go. Do 10% WC, weekly. You might do 20% during cycling.