I started in this hobby maybe a year or 2 younger than you are now...

The best advice I could start you off with is this:

1) Reef tanks are expensive. Buy used equipment, etc. and that will help keep you from going broke;

2) The 3 most important things to remember are:

 - Water quality (correct parameters, testing and dosing to keep them stable, and providing good water movement  "Flow") is essentially important;

 - Good lighting if you want to keep anything NOT a fish (corals, anemones, etc.);

 - Patience. Nothing good ever happens instantly.

3) Ask questions. Even if you think it's a "dumb question" - if you don't know the answer, then it's not "dumb"...

Good Luck - and Welcome to WMAS 

 

Yes, I agree that there is a wealth of info available here that (unfortunately) now goes mainly untapped.

I frequent a few Facebook reefing pages, and often cringe (and sometimes get into debates) with "experts" claiming you MUST run a multi-week (sometimes more than a month) fishless 'cycle' before stocking a reef tank AT ALL... ]

Then I hit them with "I started in this hobby 50 years ago (good grief!) and what you are purporting as fact is untrue... and BTW, here's my latest tank - which had fish and corals in it within the first week - and as they say, "the proof is in the pudding..."

This forum has actually been down for a few months.

Thanks to Jake, our awesome friend, it's back up again.

The information contained here is still relevant. 

We can learn from other experienced hobbyists how to do it right, 

and

A reef aquarium can be up and running with coral and fish in just 7 days!!!!

My plan right now is to build a clean setup with live rock, sand, some beginner-friendly coral as well as 2 clown fish and possibly a cardinal if it works out. I am trying to do this the correct way and learn as much as I can before rushing it. 

Since I am starting out, I am definitely on a bit of a budget, so if anyone has extra equipment, rocks, coral frags, or even just advice you are willing to share I would seriously appreciate it. I am happy to learn, trade later on, or even pay a bit depending on what it is. 

Looking forward to being part of the community and seeing everyone’s tanks! 

With softies and shrimp, you're pretty limited on fish choices.  A tiny, peaceful fish like a small watchman goby might work, but even then, it's a risk.  Really depends on the goby's personality.  I'd do a TON of research before adding anything, to be honest.  You don't want to lose your shrimp!

Think of it this way:  nutrition is the food, nutrients are the leftovers after everything's eaten.  Simple as that.