tank set-up

Question
Hi Jennifer--
                  I just recently set up my salt water tank, I added the salt, the ammonia killer.  I have my heater and filter going. When can I add live rock?  What do you think about 2 maxi-jet powerheads? Is an aqua c pro hot skimmer good? what is a good source for lights?  Where can I buy a glass canopy top for a 55 gallon? Am I on the right track?  

Thanks for your help !

Answer
HI Joe. You can add live rock at any time. Usually live rock is added during set up and used to aid in the cycling of the tank. Buying fully curd live rock is the best way to go and all the little organisms living with in the structure of the rock can help with the addition of ammonia which is needed in getting the cycling process under way. There should also be a healthy population of your good bacteria to break down the ammonia and this bacteria is much needed to have a healthy thriving environment in the long run. You should add your live rock as soon as you can.
 Depending on what size the power heads are two may be enough for a 55 gallon tank. I much prefer the hydor koralia power heads but it really does not make too much of a difference as long as you have a good turn over of your water and the current in your tank is not too turbulent. You will want to make sure that the surface tension of the water is being broken up as much as possible, with out there being too strong of a current, to ensure a good exchange of gases at the surface. If your current is too strong it will blow your fish around too vigorously and the fish will have to fight to swim and be under too much stress and use too much energy causing problems with them. My best advice is to experiment as much as possible with the placement of the power heads in order to get the best currents.
I like the Aqua-C skimmers. I am not all that familiar with the H.O.T. series and I am not sure that they make one??? However the Aqua-C pro remora is a good choice if this is the one you were looking at.
Your lighting is all going to depend on what inhabitants you are planning to have in your tank. A reef tank is going to need a much more intense system then a fish only tank will. Your question however is what is a good source for lighting??? Do you mean where is a good place to buy? That one I can not really help you out with. I work in a fish supply store and get everything at cost so I do not typically buy from the Internet or other pet stores! I have in the past ordered from a site called marine depot and I think they do a good job but you may have to join a forum or look around on some of them to see what the general population of marine hobbyists say. The best place for me to buy lighting is the store I work at!
 You should be able to buy a glass canopy for your tank at any place that sells fish supplies. These are not very hard to come by.
It sounds like you are on the right track to me. Just remember to take it slow in the beginning and to be very patient. It will pay off greatly in the end! Any other questions feel free to ask me, that is why I am here and new set ups are my favorite types of questions!