starting 1st saltwater tank

[Aquatic_Eddy]

Just started a salt water tank, only have the salt water in it so far....bought a bag of salt (50 gallon) and mixed it w/water in my 55 gallon tank, its been about 2 hours and the salinity is still way too high. > ANy advice on how to get this going would be great. We've been adding more water trying to bring the level down but its not really working.

[JohnO]

Assuming that the tank is full, you will need to take out some salt water and replace with freshwater.

Just a couple of things you need to think about though.

What sort of hydrometer are you using.

What is the water temperature.

Maybe you would be better off leaving it ( maybe with a powerhead running ) and check again in the morning.

John

[fletch]

Let the water mix about 24 hours and then check it again. You may be getting a bad reading because the salt hasn't completely dissolved yet.
You will need some sort of power head in the tank to circulate the water

Also put your heater in the tank and bring the temp up to around 80 degrees this will also effect the salinity reading.................................. John

[fletch]

John I must have been typing when you posted LOL .. John

[JohnO]

[Aquatic_Eddy]

ok thanks, the salt is "Instant Ocean" and says it dissolves fast and can be used instantly, and the hydrometer is the same brand as the salt. I found out there was a bubble on the pointer which was messing the reading up but the sg. is 1.026, so its going down little by little. the temp is already at 80 its been about that all day. We were thinking of getting the live rock after about a day w/the live sand and substrate. Is that too soon? I dont want any organisms that might be on the rocks to die because of the water difference. Also, how long does it take to have any organisms start to appear on the live rock?

[Aquatic_Eddy]

anyone have any advice on stands for different tanks? When we got ours we bought both at walmart, the 55 gal glass tank and the black( pretty sure its wood) stand to go w/it. We had freshwater but realized most pics of saltwater tanks have stands that the tank sits down in..ours isnt like that its basically just sitting on top on the corners w/nothing in the middle. Do you think that there is anything to worry about w/this once the sand and rocks and things are added it will be much heavier than before w/just gravel.

[fletch]

[quote author=Aquatic_Eddy link=board=Newbie;num=1089604008;start=0#5 date=07/11/04 at 21:07:48]ok thanks, the salt is "Instant Ocean" and says it dissolves fast and can be used instantly, and the hydrometer is the same brand as the salt. I found out there was a bubble on the pointer which was messing the reading up but the sg. is 1.026, so its going down little by little. the temp is already at 80 its been about that all day. We were thinking of getting the live rock after about a day w/the live sand and substrate. Is that too soon? I dont want any organisms that might be on the rocks to die because of the water difference. Also, how long does it take to have any organisms start to appear on the live rock?[/quote]

Try starting with the 3 steps to setting up a reef tank

http://www.3reef.com/step1.shtml

http://www.3reef.com/step2.shtml

http://www.3reef.com/step3.shtml

John

[fletch]

About the stand I don't know what you have so I can't say I built my own stand as the ones in the store just seemed a little flimsy to me ......................... John

[Aquatic_Eddy]

hmm......ok well what about lighting, im alrady short on cash with all this other stuff is lighting really all that important. The link you sent me talks a little about haliene?? i think that how you spell it, well i know i cant afford those so what do u recommend