looks like you're well on your way! Welcome to TR, by the way!
It's great that you're asking so many questions and taking your time with this. I just wanted to comment on the use of
NSW and starting a tank up right away. Any time
live rock/sand is moved, either from the ocean to your tank or from tank to tank, there will always be some die off. Sponges are exposed to air and will then usually succomb to death and will decay as well as other small critters and the like dying off. So, even if you're starting with cycled rocks and
NSW, you'll still go through a cycle where
ammonia and
nitrates/nitrites are elevated. So, at any rate, it's good to be patient and just see the cycle through. Your tank's going to get ugly before it gets beautiful...just be forewarned. Algae will crop up and you'll eventually get a clean up crew that will take care of that, but each phase needs to work in order to move on to the next step.
An additional comment to the use of
NSW: it's great if you can get your hands on it and are able to transport it and use it for your water changes, but from what I've read up on it, you're also opening the door for unknown parasites and diseases that you may not be able to control.
