Starter Inverts & Fish

[winvictus]

Last week I set up a 90 gal. fish-only tank with live rock and live sand;protein skimmer; flourescent lighting 2 x 40W, 1 bulb is actinic. I am cycling now. I want to add starter inverts (e.g. cleaner crabs, snails, shrimp, etc.) this weekend followed by a few starter fish the following weekend when ammonia, etc. is zero. Any recommendations concerning specific types of starter inverts and fish, numbers, time to introduce and maintenance procedures, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

 

[winvictus]

Thanks Slimy.
This is exactly the kind of advice I was searching for. I'm having a hard time (and my 7 yr. old son who is the real fish nut is having an even harder time)controlling the urge to put some creatures in the tank, but I will definitely heed your advice regarding snails over crabs, and the specific types. I was already planning to start with clown fish (2), and avoid damsels. I'll let you know how it all works out.

Once again, many thanks for the sage advice.
Winvictus

 

[slimy]

Wait a couple more weeks, or until the cycle is complete. Add snails. Nassarius, Cerith, Strombus, Trochus. The nassarius will handle the sand bed. The rest will get the sand and rocks. Whether you want to get hermits is up to you, but I recently removed mine, as they tend to kill certain types of snails, and a good snail can clean better than most crabs.
Good starter fish are clowns. You can get a damsel if you like, but you will likely be stuck with it as they are damn near impossible ot catch in a tank with live rock.
Don't go adding a bunch of fish right away. Add them one at a time, unless you want to introduce mated pairs.