Sorry for getting to this subject late but I came in for the cps only today. I'm a complete noob with cps but I managed aquatics and kept tanks myself. My personal opinion...is it too late to strip everything completely down and redo it? Just trying to remember the pic and skimming through the post, forgive me if I remember anything incorrectly, but...
1. I would seriously recommend you cycle the tank with live rock ONLY (don't add a single fish until AFTER the tank cycles) or a shrimp from the grocery store. You tank never had a chance to cycle so it's not surprising that the animals died. Most people I find have no idea what I mean when I say "cycle" but it is a VITAL part of setting up a successful tank so I'll explain if you don't know. Are you sure you got your live rock from a reliable source? Did you prep the rock before putting it in?
2. You don't have NEARLY enough substrate or live rock in the tank. You should really have way, WAY, WAAAAAY more! Did you get live sand? Is the sand and gravel specifically for saltwater use?
3. Only after the tank has cycled do you add fish, NO inverts at first as they are much more sensitive than the average fish, and you add fish slowly over time. Personally I would never add a tang, foxface, or any fish that will grow so large to so small a tank. I consider 55 gallons to be the absolute minimum for those.
4. You don't mention what kind of equipment you have on this specifically. Since you don't plan on having corals you don't have to worry much about lighting and you could maybe do without a protein skimmer but I prefer to have one just for the improved water quality. Your filter is what worries me the most. Is it undergravel, hang on the back, cannister...?
5. The devil is in the details!! What's the salinity, ph, temp, ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels each day? Keep a journal!
I'll go see if I can dig up my old saltwater forum. They have some absolute geniuses on there that can surely point you straight!
Jenn
---------- Post added at 10:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 PM ----------
I didn't even notice your post right above mine...a STARFISH
Noooooo! If he's still alive please, please, please return him to the store as soon as possible!!!
Jenn
---------- Post added at 11:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------
Ok, I can't find the one that was my omg favorite but thank goodness the DFW club still has their forum up! Back when I was in the hobby these guys really knew their stuff!! Search for the DFW Marine Aquarium Society forums and I'm sure they'll help you out of this jam.
Jenn