Help setting up my 1st salt tank

[bonesb66]

Hi Guys

im a big freshwater guy but i have a 3ft tank id like to convert to salt.

I Was going to give it a go before so i brought some live sand, when i gave it up about 6 months ago i left the sand in a bucket with salf water but im guessing its dead now. is there anyway i can bring it back to life is it worth using that sand instead of any other sand?

What i need from one of you guys is a basic list of what i need to do to start up as my knowledge is very basic.

I will be scouting round this forum all day but i literally know you use RO water mix it with salt (marine salt) get the right salinity which is 1.025 off the top of my head and then you put live rock in for BB let it mature and add fish? i dont know about the small details like the light they need etc etc so hopefully someone can educate me?

 

[Otherone]

Are your goals Fish only Live rock or do you intend to add corals, anemone's, or any other photo-feeders?

If fowlr your lighting demands are the same as Freshwater fish only, also you won't need to be on the high range of salinity. Live sand isn't really Live unless you go to the beach and dig it yourself. Most of the organisms die from lack of 02 while in the bag making it more of a cycle jump start tool then instant bacteria. As you cycle thru the sand will start to re-house new bacteria.

Also what type of filration are you gonna use - Sump, HOB, Cannister?

 

[johnny roastbeef]

How many gallons is the tank, what are your plans for equipment?

 

[FLESHY]

I dont use RO. You might not need to either, depending on what kind of tank you want to do, and what your tap h2o quality is like.

1.025 is pretty high, a reef salinity for sure. If you are doing a fish only tank, you could go 1.020 and save yourself a lot of money in the long run...that is the difference between using 2 cups of salt for 5g of water and using 2 1/2c of salt in 5g.