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.
Hey all, OK this is what I have the starfish and the "fanzzzzz" lol... are alive and getting bigger ... But now I see new stuff that I did not see before.
And it looks like a polyp ...or something it has a small trunk with finger looking things coming out of it ... and when something touches it it slowly retracts. But not all the way .. there are 6 of them on the rock and I think the moved from one part of the rock to the other...but they are so small ... what can they be ???
Semper Fi !
PS I did not pay for the Live stuff other then the LR and the stuff im talking about was in or on the live rock ....
Hey all ... got 2 more LR.. And more hitchhikers on it. Their where 3 more snails and 2 hermit crabs on ... They are all looking good and it's been 3 days... But there is this brown looking algy on my glass.... What’s Up with that? It appeared over one day ... I went to work, got home and it was there... can any one help...???
Ok to recap ... it's a 14 gallon Nano cube. 3 LR at about 6LB each. Over 6 small brittle starfish (hitchhikers) 5 Snails, 2 hermit crabs, and 1 clam well I think that’s what it is, and 4 (fanzzzzz) all off them I got as hitchhikers on the LR
The brown fuzzies are diatom blooms... typical in a new set up. It will clear with time. It really needs to have it's own cycle...like catching the flu....just gotta let it take its course.
This is usually just part of the cycle and will gradually diminish, provided your water quality continues to improve.
One note: I'm not sure what kind of top-off water you're using, but the use of RODI water will significantly help keep diatoms down. There are a lot of silicates in tap water and the use of silicate filters in the RODI systems will help to keep that down and eventually clear out the diatoms from your system.
Welcome to TR srg! I started right where you are now, with a 10 gallon nano and absolutely no idea what i had gotten into. I listened to the podcasts three or more times each and gained a ton of information. Listen to the ones on topics you don't understand as well, like seahorses, there is still lots of great info in them! Now, i am cycling a new 100 gallon tank!
One thing i want to pass on to you; don't waste money on the cycle boosters the LFS sells. I used it on my 10 gallon and i don't think it did anything at all. Try rob's shrimp method, or dump in a bunch of flake food.
Oh, and i dig your comments on the live rock. I started wondering why i even needed fish what with the entertainment the rocks provide
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
The Water Is good ... OK this is what I have now 2 fish One I do not remember the name the other one is the Clown fish...( Ni-mo) O and the other stuff I talked about... And one pink tipped anemony... Damn Spelling ... Forgive me but I cant spell ... O some one swiped my Camera so I cant take a Pic just yeat... But It all looks good...
i cut and ran. that fish was a complete terror! :P
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
test.... 
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
OK I'm Back 
