[beginner]

ok os i have had a 10 gallon freshwater tank for about a month and absolutely loved it so i decided to go for the salt-water tank. wouldn't my luck have it my grandma wanted to get rid of her 100 galon tank because she had it at a beauty shop and the fumes were killing her fish. So now the question is did i get the right stuff? i have a bag of salt of course, whisper heater 40, 2 penguin 550 submersible power heads, hydrometer , and a fluval 404 MSF so is that all i need or what ? this is so confusing and overwelming at first so please help me any advice would be much appreciated !!!

[Brian35]

how much salt is in the bag you bought? it should say how many gallons of water it makes. your going to need enough salt to make the proper salinity and then extra to hold yo over for a while. And whats the wattage of the heater?

[beginner]

its enough salt for a 60 galon tanks and a 150 watt heater

[Brian35]

you will need another bag of 60 gallon salt to get the Specific gravity to be where you need it and have some back up salt.

Any you should have at minimum 2 watts per gallon. But the heater is totally subject to your climate where the tank will be. I have a 200 watt heater in a 55g and it is almost never on with a consistant temp of 81.

Everything else seems ok to me. Just go slow and if your not sure on what direction you need to go just ask we are all here to help as best we can.

[beginner]

what is specific gravity and where do i need it?

[LowCel]

Here is a great article for you to read to help you get started.

http://reefcentral.com/modules.php?s...showpage&pid=1

[beginner]

ok so i will definetly read the article and appreciate everyones thoughts and suggestions. yet i still have another question i am putting crushed coral in the bottom of the tank which i have since then read isn't such a great idea but it is allready bought and open and the process of washing is being done? so my question is how in the hay diddie are you suppose to wash this stuff it is taking forever. it is 4-45 at night and i am still washing this stuff and haven't even begun to put water in the tank this stinks horribly

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by beginner

ok so i will definetly read the article and appreciate everyones thoughts and suggestions. yet i still have another question i am putting crushed coral in the bottom of the tank which i have since then read isn't such a great idea but it is allready bought and open and the process of washing is being done? so my question is how in the hay diddie are you suppose to wash this stuff it is taking forever. it is 4-45 at night and i am still washing this stuff and haven't even begun to put water in the tank this stinks horribly

Well, I understand 'already bought' but you need to understand something here.... I made the same mistake, my first tank was also put up with crushed coral... It's still in there, because I haven't the guts to take EVERYTHING in this tank apart and start it over... YET.. I am planning to, when I get a few days with nothing else planned... It is a HUGE pain in the behind! I have endless problems with nitrates, even using a nitrate sponge product doesn't do much, so I'm stuck doing too-often water changes to control the nitrates... My advice is this... Bite the bullet and buy a different substrate material, now, while you can, before you place all of your rocks/corals/livestock/whatever else you're putting in there..... You pay now, or you pay later is what it boils down to.

[Samper]

Sueet is right I changed my CC out not too long ago and went with barebottom cause I was having the same problems. Bite the bullet and get sand but you will have much more than a financial headache if you put the CC in there.