Hello, I want to start off by saying that I've had a fresh water tank for a few years. Last year I moved into my new home and I sold all my fish in fear that they would not make it while we moved. That brings me to now. I'm ready to get back into the hobby but in a new way. I want to go saltwater now. I want fish only with live rock. I still have some of my stuff from my old setup and this is what I have
A 55 gal. tank
Aqua-Tech dual filter (walmart)
Tank Heater
2 small air pumps(walmart again) hooked up to a 24inch stone
Tank brush
Fish net
What I got from the shop a week ago
New filter cartridges
15 pounds of Carib Sea Florida crushed coral
15 pounds of live sand (don't remember the brand)
Instant Ocean sea Salt (good for 40 gal of water)
Instant Ocean reef crystals sea salt (good for 25 gal)
Prime Seachem (shop owner said it was really good to use if you fill your tank with tap water)
After I got all my (old) stuff out of storage I washed everthing good with warm water and dawn soap, then washed it really good 6 times with just water. Washed sand and crushed coral with cold water a few times, and put it in tank. Filled the tank up with tap water and added the Prime Seachem(2 drops per gal. per. directions) Then added salt (still adding slowly almost 1.020 trying to get it to 1.023)
Ok back to my question(s)
Is there anything that I NEED to get that I do not have?
Do you think I need more live sand?
What kind of testing of the water do I need to do before I put fish in? and is there a kit of testing strips that has everthing in it?
Will the filter I have now work? What do you think is a better filter that is low cost?
The owner of the fish shop said that it is better to put more of the Prime Seachem in at start up then less?
I'm going to run the tank for a few weeks before I put fish in it. Let me know if I did anything wrong or if Im totally lost on this I can take the bashing.LOL Thanks in advance
A 55 gal. tank
Aqua-Tech dual filter (walmart)
Tank Heater
2 small air pumps(walmart again) hooked up to a 24inch stone
Tank brush
Fish net
What I got from the shop a week ago
New filter cartridges
15 pounds of Carib Sea Florida crushed coral
15 pounds of live sand (don't remember the brand)
Instant Ocean sea Salt (good for 40 gal of water)
Instant Ocean reef crystals sea salt (good for 25 gal)
Prime Seachem (shop owner said it was really good to use if you fill your tank with tap water)
After I got all my (old) stuff out of storage I washed everthing good with warm water and dawn soap, then washed it really good 6 times with just water. Washed sand and crushed coral with cold water a few times, and put it in tank. Filled the tank up with tap water and added the Prime Seachem(2 drops per gal. per. directions) Then added salt (still adding slowly almost 1.020 trying to get it to 1.023)
Ok back to my question(s)
Is there anything that I NEED to get that I do not have?
Do you think I need more live sand?
What kind of testing of the water do I need to do before I put fish in? and is there a kit of testing strips that has everthing in it?
Will the filter I have now work? What do you think is a better filter that is low cost?
The owner of the fish shop said that it is better to put more of the Prime Seachem in at start up then less?
I'm going to run the tank for a few weeks before I put fish in it. Let me know if I did anything wrong or if Im totally lost on this I can take the bashing.LOL Thanks in advance