Since we have our chiller in the attic, we like to put low insulation on the lines. You just call your local hardware store and get some insulation which is very easy to install. Just open it up and slip the line into it. And that will insulate us from the heat in the attic.

Add sand, some people like to put the live rock at the bottom of the tank first but I don’t. I like to add the sand first because it gives the rock something to sit on. Also, it's always good to have a small child to help. I like my crash coral to be about an eight of an inch because fine sand will blow away to try the stands to build up in the sand. I like to level out the sand in the main tank. After the sand debris has cleared from the water, you are ready to add your live rock.

Add live rock, it should be cured at this point so as not to stink up your house. My general rule is to add about a pound to a pound and a half per gallon. Rest the bigger pieces on the bottom and place the smaller pieces on the top. Caves are good as they give fish places to hide and feel secure. Keep it in the open end areas as possible. Holes in the rock, also assure good water flow throughout the whole tank. They try to build up around the live rock where it touches the substrate. So, try to have the live rock above points instead of lying down. Elevating the rock is good as it will the corals sit closer to the light. Try to slope the rock on an angle so that the light head is all the way down. If you build the rock walls straight up and down, corals on the top will get the light but the corals on the bottom may not have sufficient light to survive.

I’m not a big fun of securing rock down, as once you lock rock in, it is difficult to change and you have no chance of catching prevalent fish. Besides, even the unsecured rock is very difficult for the inhabitants to move. And I have found covens to be extremely rare. By using live rock and live sand, your tank should be ready for a fish in two to three days.