Newbie wanting to double check on things

[ser_renely]

Ok, I have been reading, a fair amount here... great place. My questions, I think I know the answers to, but want to verify. Do not want to kill anything on ignorance.

1)I just bought a used 30g tank. It has an eclipse top, I do not know the model number or anything. It has a pump, filter, and Bio wheel, and two bulbs(florescent I gather) Can this sustain a small reef and a few fish? if no, what should I be looking into? I know people here have had great tanks without P.skimmers.

2) is there a good way to put sand in a tank that has water in it already? How much should I put in? 1lb per gallon? Is that per gallon of actual water, or if I have 30g tank, that means 30lbs? is it about 1.5lbs of live rock?

3)I live in The Bahamas, amazing reefs all over my doorstep . Gaming laws aside, can I just plop fish in my tank after cycling? If I have a problem, can I just plop them, rock, and coral back in to the ocean without harming them? I can not go to a fish store, we have none...or stores for that matter. 3rd world country. Whats a good way to catch em? low stress etc...

4) I am going to start my cycle. Getting sand today, maybe rock... probably tomorrow, waters so damn cold right nowv. What are good cycle fish other then damsels? triggers?

Ok, I think thats my first round of questions.

Thank you,
Ser

[totter0817]

Wow, I wish you luck. I can't imagine trying to go out in the ocean and just catching a fish to put in your tank. I know nothing about that but I would be careful of diseases, you might want to start a QT tank. But I would definetly warm up the water before you put too much in. I have heard that if you put live rock into a cold tank it will kill a lot of the micro-organisms living on it.

[ser_renely]

heheh, yeah, when I say cold I was sort of joking. I think the water is in the 70's