How do I start my new system? I've read about adding ammonia, bait shrimp, fish food, some rugged fish. Or do I just do nothing and add live rock and live sand?

Your LR should have enough die off to start your system. Or you can add one of the above (I use a shrimp) to jump start the ammonia build up.

If you use LR.... some do not, but use base rock. If that is the case, you could use the table shrimp. Don't use a fish. It's just not fair. Ammonia burn is a bummer.

Dave

If you use LR.... some do not, but use base rock. If that is the case, you could use the table shrimp. Don't use a fish. It's just not fair. Ammonia burn is a bummer.

Dave

I think I will go with the base rock with live sand. Will the shrimp just dissolve in the tank? Marco rocks recommends a nitrifying bacteria product Fritz (turbo start 900).

Marc's idea is a good one, but the problem is, the product, while containing all the proper bacterias (in high levels) needs something to work on. I'd still toss in a table shrimp, let it get funky, and begin to break down, then you know you have high levels of ammonia in there. You can fish the shrimp out thereafter.

Dave

In my opinion you would be better to use non-live sand, and mostly base rock with some LR to inoculate it.

Ok, day 1, ammonia still at 0. Did not add any shrimp yet.